Long Beach Poly senior corner Alex Austin has committed to Oregon State. Austin helped the Jackrabbits get a (9-3) overall record and go undefeated in the Moore League during the 2017 season.
Austin is the son of Long Beach City Councilman Al Austin and Daysha Austin, the District Director for the Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer.
During his junior season, Austin made 2.6 tackles per game, combining to 29 total tackles with 13 being solo tackles. He reached a season high of six tackles and four solo tackles during their season opener against Los Alamitos.
“Being my first game of the season, my first actually starting varsity in my junior year, it was a bit nerve-wracking, but it was a good way to start my experience off with a win,” Austin said.
Their second week of gameplay presented a strong competitor in City Section juggernauts the Narbonne Gauchos, but Long Beach Poly defeated them 14-10.
“That’s one of our biggest rivals,” Austin said. “It was a good game the whole game. We barely beat them.”
Austin currently has a 3.3 GPA, math is his favorite subject.
“I’m in one of the top three magnet programs at the school,” he said. “The people are great, they’re all for you as a student first and then as an athlete.”
The 24-20 loss to Serra in Gardena was what Austin considered to be his top performance. He landed four tackles with two being solo.
“I think that was my best game due to the fact I was guarding one of the top guys in the country the whole game,” Austin said. “Just being able to compete with him to get me better means a lot.”
Long Beach Poly was featured in the Version go90 series “The Machine” with LeBron James as executive producer. Being documented for the series was a “cool experience,” according to Austin.
Austin began getting attention from Oregon State near the end of his junior year when a recruiter visited the high school. A few months later, the Beavers sent him an offer.
“On my visit, all the love that they showed me as a coaching staff as a whole meant a lot to me,” Austin said.
Along with playing football, Austin competes in track and field by running the 100m and 200m. He takes a lot of pride in attending the high school that produced more NFL athletes than any other school in America.
“It means a lot to me just being able to carryout the legacy of Long Beach Poly and being able to be a part of the tradition means a lot,” Austin said. “Long Beach developed me well.”
