Freshman blesses Rutgers starting lineup at cornerback

Two years ago, he had no idea where he was headed.

After receiving a diploma from Campus Magnet High School in Queens, New York, Blessuan Austin wasn't even sure he wanted to continue his education, let alone play college football.

Fast forward to 2015 and the true freshman will be the starting cornerback for the Rutgers football team when the Scarlet Knights open the season Saturday at High Point Solutions Stadium against Norfolk State.

“The adversity I had to overcome was amazing,” Austin said. “The fact that I didn’t even know what I was going to do when I was leaving high school — if I wanted to go to junior college or prep school — and I made the decision to go to prep school, but at the same time it’s not a guarantee that you would go Division I out of prep school.”

After spending a year as a post-graduate at Queen's prep school Milford Academy, the defensive back was added as an early enrollee for the Knights in the spring. Ranked the No. 8 defensive back in New York in 2015 by rivals.com, offers flooded Austin’s mailbox from all corners of the country.

The reason is simple.

Austin represents the new prototype for cornerbacks at the professional level. Long and lean at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, he can measure evenly with the Big Ten’s brightest at the wide receiver position.

And with bigger, more established programs in the hunt for a dynamic defender of his ilk, it would be logical for Austin to be torn in his decision on where he would play college football.

“No, not at all,” he clarified. “As soon as Rutgers offered me, I committed. I knew this is where I wanted to be — close to home, it’s a great school, great academics, great football.”

In April, Austin’s skills stood out immediately, often drawing the assignment to cover arguably the Big Ten’s best wide receiver and preseason all-conference selection, Leonte Carroo.

The term blanketed may be more apropos to describe the defense Austin displayed while covering Rutgers’ top target.

Sure, the senior All-American had his moments. But what stuck in the minds of onlookers was how the freshmen stuck like glue to Carroo.

Humble and gracious, Austin paid respect to the competition Carroo provided, saying he believed the Knights leader in receiving yards (1,086) in 2014 helped to sharpen his tools in practice and scrimmaging.

“(Carroo) is one of the best receivers in the Big Ten,” Austin said of the conference’s leader in yards per catch. "So, the fact that I get to line up against him — play man coverage against him — it’s definitely something that’s helping me out.”

Austin claims to be that type of corner, the type that loves to play man-to-man. Put him on an island and he says he won’t just survive, he'll thrive.

“When I lock a guy down blanket coverage, I’m all over him. He can’t even get into his route,” Austin said. “That’s definitely the type of corner I wanna be, along with being physical and coming out ahead.”

The kid from Queens is not the only one who is confident in his ability.

Austin drew the attention of the Rutgers’ top tackler (102 in 2014) and defensive leader over the course of the spring and summer camps.

“Bless got better everyday,” said the Knights' junior linebacker Steve Longa. “He cares. He cares about football, he loves football and he wants to get better. And when somebody cares, they’re going to end up just fine.”

Austin’s preseason performance also impressed head coach Kyle Flood, so much so that when he released Rutgers' depth chart for the season opener yesterday, Austin stood as the only true freshmen in the starting lineup.

“We are excited about him,” Flood said of Austin. “Bless was somebody that we recognized right away — was a player with a lot of talent — and then it was just a matter of how quickly did we think he could fit into the system. I think he's done a good job.”

But the fourth-year head coach knows there is a distinct difference between making plays in scrimmages and making plays on Saturdays.

“I'm anxious to see a lot of the things I've seen in practice," Flood said. "I want to see those things materialize in a game against another opponent on a big stage and this Saturday is going to be a great first test."

Although Austin was excited to earn the start, he cautioned that the player who is on the field for the first play is not a measure of the impact that player can have on the game.

“I’m definitely not the type of person who’ll settle for second string or third string,”  Austin said. “I definitely wanna be the first guy out there. But at the same time, it’s what you do when you’re out there.”

Austin will be motivated by the competition that awaits Saturday at high noon at High Point, but 'Bless' says his greatest motivation is drawn from above.

“My motivation is the fact that God blessed me with talent and the only way to repay Him is to take advantage of the talent I have and use it for the opportunities I’m given,” he said.

For updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @KevinPXavier and @TargumSports on Twitter.