This one player inspired most of the New York Jets roster
On Thursday, the New York Jets’ official X account shared a video in which players were asked, “Whose highlights did you watch the most on YouTube growing up?”
Most of the players gave the same answer… Tavon Austin.
Jets stars like Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson, Quinnen Williams, and Sauce Gardner all voted for the West Virginia and Dunbar High School legend.
guys only want one thing
and it's Tavon Austin highlights pic.twitter.com/UhlotltWMR
— New York Jets (@nyjets) June 13, 2024
Third-year tackle Max Mitchell dubbed Austin’s highlight reel as “the hardest tape of all time.” Rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley said Austin was “a no-brainer for all the skill players.”
If you know, then you know.
West Virginia Tavon Austin highlights. pic.twitter.com/zeRsQJfUx2
— College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) February 13, 2024
Now 34 years old, Austin is widely viewed as a legend amongst the younger generation of football players. In a viral video from 2021, then-Colts running back Nyheim Hines was in disbelief that he got to meet Austin while he was a member of the Jaguars.
Tavon Austin has some of the best college highlights. #Colts RB Nyheim Hines couldn’t believe that he got to meet him last week.
This is awesome. pic.twitter.com/JogLniuxBD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 18, 2021
Austin was chosen eighth overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2013 NFL draft. In five years with the Rams, he recorded 1,689 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, 1,238 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, and three punt return touchdowns. Since then, Austin has bounced around, spending time with the Cowboys, Packers, and Jaguars. He was last on an NFL roster in 2022 as a member of the Bills’ practice squad.
While he didn’t quite reach superstar status in the NFL, Austin remains one of the most revered high school and college players of all time.
At Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Austin ran for 2,660 yards and 34 touchdowns on 12.2 yards per carry in his senior season. He was a two-time Maryland Consensus Offensive Player of the Year. At West Virginia, Austin exploded in his 2012 senior season, posting 1,932 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns from scrimmage in 13 games, while adding two return touchdowns.
Regardless of his NFL production, Austin remains an icon in the football world for his otherworldly accomplishments at the high school and college levels. Based on the Jets’ video, it’s clear he influenced multiple generations of players who followed behind him.
After Austin, one of the most popular choices in the Jets’ video was Tyron Smith. Multiple Jets offensive linemen voted for their legendary teammate as the player whose YouTube highlights they watched the most, including Joe Tippmann and Morgan Moses.
Sure, it isn’t sexy to say you love watching offensive line highlights, but Tyron Smith is an exception. You can’t blame anybody for being enamored with a guy whose highlights look like this.
Best plays from the Tyron Smith review
This one was SO fun to do
Truly an ELITE player https://t.co/ZW6aeVsu21 pic.twitter.com/ghHgaBOg71
— Joe Blewett (@Joerb31) June 12, 2024