Houston playmakier Austin emerges
Houston (Texas) Booker T. Washington athlete Darius Austin is a play maker.
Austin (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) was the second-leading receiver in the Houston Independent School District with 733 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. He also returned kicks and punts for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.
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"He's a special athlete," former Washington offensive coordinator Kerry Dixon said. "He has tremendous speed, hands and escape ability."
Austin could add running back and cornerback to his 2007 resume.
"I'll do anything to help my team," Austin said. "Last year's success has just prepared me for what's to come this summer and next fall."
The first-team, all-district selection will be running track in the spring and training this summer with uncle, Charles Austin, who represented the USA in the 1996 Olympics.
"I'm really hungry and will be hitting some one-day camps with my uncle," Austin said. "Right now I'm getting handwritten letters and text messages from schools, including Texas A&M and TCU. It think they are getting close to offering.
"I also grew up loving Houston, West Virginia and Louisville. I want to go somewhere that I can get the ball in my hands and get exposure to the NFL. I want to graduate and make sure I can get a good job after school if my NFL dreams don't come true."
Austin showed off his athleticism this month during the MSL Houston combine, where he ran a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash and did 14 reps at the 185-pound bench press station.