Tavon Austin facts for kids
Austin in 2013
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | March 15, 1990 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Dunbar (Baltimore) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | West Virginia (2009–2012) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Tavon Wesley Austin (born March 15, 1990) is an American former professional football player. He was a talented wide receiver and return specialist. Tavon played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He was recognized as a top player, earning first-team All-American honors twice. The St. Louis Rams chose him in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.
Early Life and High School Sports
Tavon Austin was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He went to Dunbar High School in Baltimore. There, he was a star in football, basketball, and track.
In football, Tavon played as a running back. He helped Dunbar High win three state championships in a row. In his senior year, he ran for 2,660 yards and scored 34 touchdowns. He also returned punts for 446 yards and two scores.
Tavon set state records for career points (790), touchdowns (123), total yards (9,258), and rushing yards (7,962). He was named Maryland Offensive Player of the Year twice. In track, he was a fast sprinter and jumper.
College Football Career
Tavon Austin received a football scholarship to West Virginia University. He played for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team from 2009 to 2012. He mostly played as a wide receiver but sometimes ran the ball too.
As a freshman in 2009, he had 15 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 47 yards and scored a touchdown on a kick return. In 2010, his sophomore year, he caught 58 passes for 787 yards and eight touchdowns. He also ran for 159 yards and a touchdown.
In 2011, his junior year, Tavon had 100 catches for 1,180 yards and eight touchdowns. He also gained 189 rushing yards and scored another touchdown. He returned two kicks for touchdowns that year. He was named a first-team All-American by CBS Sports. In the 2012 Orange Bowl, he set a record with four touchdown catches, helping his team win 70–33.
As a senior in 2012, he had an amazing season. He caught 114 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also ran for 643 yards and three touchdowns. Tavon was also a great returner, with 813 yards and a touchdown from kick returns, and 165 yards and a touchdown from punt returns. In one game against the Oklahoma Sooners, he gained a career-high 572 total yards from running, receiving, and returning kicks. He was named the All-Purpose Performer of the Year.
Professional Football Career
Tavon Austin was chosen by the St. Louis Rams as the 8th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. The Rams even traded up to get him! His college teammate, Stedman Bailey, also joined the Rams later in the same draft.
St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams
2013 Season: A Strong Start
In his first year with the National Football League (NFL), Tavon played 13 games. He had 151 rushing yards, 418 receiving yards, and 678 return yards.
In Week 10, against the Indianapolis Colts, Tavon had a huge game. He caught two passes for 138 yards, and both were touchdowns! He also returned five kicks and punts for 172 yards, including an amazing 98-yard punt return touchdown. He was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and then the Player of the Month. He also made the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
2014 Season: Return Specialist Star
In 2014, Tavon's receiving yards went down, but he continued to be an excellent returner. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate for his return skills. His 391 punt return yards were third-best in the NFL.
Tavon was part of another clever special teams play. In a game against the Seattle Seahawks, he pretended to call for a fair catch, but the ball went to his teammate, Stedman Bailey, on the other side of the field. With everyone focused on Tavon, Bailey ran 90 yards for a touchdown! Tavon also had a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown against Washington.
2015 Season: Best All-Around Year
Tavon had his best season in 2015. He set new career highs with 52 catches for 473 yards and five receiving touchdowns. He also ran the ball 52 times for 434 yards and four rushing touchdowns. He even had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.
After a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tavon became the first player since 1965 to score at least five receiving touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns, and a punt return touchdown in one season.
2016 Season: Moving to Los Angeles
In 2016, the Rams moved to Los Angeles. Tavon signed a new four-year contract. He had his first year with over 500 receiving yards, catching 58 passes for 509 yards and three touchdowns. However, his rushing yards and return touchdowns decreased from the previous year.
2017 Season: Role Changes
In 2017, Tavon's role changed under the new coach. He caught fewer passes and was mostly used for short runs or during less important parts of games. He also stopped returning punts after Week 5 due to fumbling the ball. He scored only one touchdown that year, which was a 27-yard run.
2018 Season: Traded to Dallas
In 2018, Tavon was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. He was meant to help replace another player as the team's slot wide receiver. In Week 2, he caught a 64-yard touchdown pass, his first with the Cowboys.
He got a groin injury and missed many games that season. However, when he played, he was more effective as a receiver, scoring two touchdowns. For the first time in his career, he did not fumble the ball at all. He returned for the playoffs and had a 51-yard punt return in one game.
2019 Season: Back with the Cowboys
Tavon re-signed with the Cowboys in 2019. In Week 15, he caught a 59-yard touchdown pass against his old team, the Los Angeles Rams. He played in 14 games, catching 13 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 47 yards and one rushing touchdown.
San Francisco 49ers
Tavon signed with the San Francisco 49ers in August 2020. He was placed on injured reserve soon after and later released.
Green Bay Packers
In December 2020, Tavon signed with the Green Bay Packers. He played in four games, catching five passes for 20 yards.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tavon signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in August 2021. He was placed on injured reserve but was activated later that month. In the 2021 season, he played in 13 games, catching 24 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown.
Buffalo Bills
Tavon signed with the Buffalo Bills in June 2022. He was released in August, re-signed to the practice squad, and then released again in October.
Images for kids
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Austin in 2019
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See also
In Spanish: Tavon Austin para niños
