Marvin Austin
Encyclopedia
Marvin Austin is an American football
defensive tackle for the New York Giants
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at North Carolina
.
title in 2006. He was named High School All-Metro First Team by Washington Post in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, he helped Coolidge High School (also in Washington, D.C.) to the DCIAA title game for the first time since 1986. Following his high school career, Austin played in the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
.
Austin was recruited by numerous top programs around the country including Florida State, Southern California and University of Tennessee
. Austin was considered an elite prospect and was ranked third overall in the country in Scout.com's final rankings and was USA Today's National Defensive Player of the Year. On National Signing Day
2007, Austin committed to play his collegiate ball at the University of North Carolina
.
In 2008, Austin played in 13 games and started 11. He tied with E.J. Wilson for most tackles by a Carolina defensive lineman with 38, had 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception (returned for touchdown), and 1 blocked kick. He had three tackles, assisted on a tackle for loss and had one quarterback pressure in the win over Notre Dame, and earned coaches "player of the game" honors for his performance.
In his junior season Austin was selected second-team All-ACC. For the season, Austin finished with 42 tackles, 6.0 tackles for losses, four sacks, three pass breakups, six quarterback pressures, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
After an excellent junior season, Austin was viewed as a potential top-10 draft pick. However before he could build on his draft stock, he was suspended along with 13 other North Carolina players for receiving improper benefits. Austin along with Tar Heels pass rusher Robert Quinn, receiver Greg Little
and three others were suspended the entire 2010 season. North Carolina still had enough talent to finish 8-5 and beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl
.
Even though he was dismissed from the UNC football team, Austin represented the school in the 2011 East-West Shrine Game on January 22, 2011. He scored a touchdown by recovering a fumble by Texas A&M Aggies
' starting quarterback Jerrod Johnson
3 yards out of the endzone.
Austin came under heavy fire in the NFL draft process. Despite having a good East-West Shrine game, his character and judgement came under question to scouts. Reports of him skipping the wonderlic test and finger-pointing in interviews reportedly disappointed some NFL personnel.
Austin was selected 52nd overall by the New York Giants. Giants general manager Jerry Reese
stated he consulted Austin's teammate at UNC Hakeem Nicks
prior to the selection. Austin said Nicks was the first person to call him after he was drafted. Prior to the draft Austin was heavily scouted by the Chicago Bears
. Bears coach Lovie Smith
and defensive coordinator
Rod Marinelli
visited Austin and "spent a goodly amount of time with him."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive tackle for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
.
Early years
Austin attended Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., which he led to their first D.C. Interscholastic Athletic AssociationD.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association
The District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association is the public high school athletic league in Washington, D.C. The league was founded in 1958. The original high school conference for D.C. schools was the Inter-High School Athletic Association, formed around 1896...
title in 2006. He was named High School All-Metro First Team by Washington Post in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, he helped Coolidge High School (also in Washington, D.C.) to the DCIAA title game for the first time since 1986. Following his high school career, Austin played in the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
.
Austin was recruited by numerous top programs around the country including Florida State, Southern California and University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. Austin was considered an elite prospect and was ranked third overall in the country in Scout.com's final rankings and was USA Today's National Defensive Player of the Year. On National Signing Day
National Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
2007, Austin committed to play his collegiate ball at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
.
College career
In his true freshman year at North Carolina, Austin played in all 12 season games and started in three. He finished the season with 26 tackles, 6.0 tackles for losses, and 4.0 sacks.In 2008, Austin played in 13 games and started 11. He tied with E.J. Wilson for most tackles by a Carolina defensive lineman with 38, had 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception (returned for touchdown), and 1 blocked kick. He had three tackles, assisted on a tackle for loss and had one quarterback pressure in the win over Notre Dame, and earned coaches "player of the game" honors for his performance.
In his junior season Austin was selected second-team All-ACC. For the season, Austin finished with 42 tackles, 6.0 tackles for losses, four sacks, three pass breakups, six quarterback pressures, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
After an excellent junior season, Austin was viewed as a potential top-10 draft pick. However before he could build on his draft stock, he was suspended along with 13 other North Carolina players for receiving improper benefits. Austin along with Tar Heels pass rusher Robert Quinn, receiver Greg Little
Greg Little
Gregory Little is a former association football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Little made his full New Zealand debut in a 5-0 win over Fiji on 3 June 1985 and ended his international playing career with four official A-international caps and one goal to his credit, his...
and three others were suspended the entire 2010 season. North Carolina still had enough talent to finish 8-5 and beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl
Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998...
.
Even though he was dismissed from the UNC football team, Austin represented the school in the 2011 East-West Shrine Game on January 22, 2011. He scored a touchdown by recovering a fumble by Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University. The nickname "Aggie" is common at land-grant or "Ag" schools in many states. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
' starting quarterback Jerrod Johnson
Jerrod Johnson
Jerrod Terrel Johnson is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Arizona Rattlers. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Texas A&M....
3 yards out of the endzone.
Austin came under heavy fire in the NFL draft process. Despite having a good East-West Shrine game, his character and judgement came under question to scouts. Reports of him skipping the wonderlic test and finger-pointing in interviews reportedly disappointed some NFL personnel.
Professional career
New York Giants
In the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
Austin was selected 52nd overall by the New York Giants. Giants general manager Jerry Reese
Jerry Reese
Jerry Reese is the current General Manager of the New York Giants. He succeeded Ernie Accorsi as general manager on January 16, 2007, having been with the Giants since 1994...
stated he consulted Austin's teammate at UNC Hakeem Nicks
Hakeem Nicks
-New York Giants:On August 1, 2009, Nicks signed a five-year, $12.54 million contract. The deal includes a $6.5 million signing bonus. During training camp, Nicks vied for a starting position with the Giants other receivers, most notably Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith.2009Nicks made his first career...
prior to the selection. Austin said Nicks was the first person to call him after he was drafted. Prior to the draft Austin was heavily scouted by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Bears coach Lovie Smith
Lovie Smith
Lovie Lee Smith is the head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the 2001 Saint Louis Rams and as the head coach for the Chicago Bears in 2006....
and defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Rod Marinelli
Rod Marinelli
Rodney Marinelli is the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Chicago Bears. He is the former head coach of the Detroit Lions...
visited Austin and "spent a goodly amount of time with him."