Hillsborough’s Austin heading west, picks New Mexico

Posted Jan 28, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 28, 2010 at 04:36 PM

Hillsborough senior quarterback Tarean Austin, one of the county’s most prolific passers last season with 2,157 yards and 20 touchdowns, said Thursday afternoon he has made a verbal commitment to the University of New Mexico.

Yes, the Lobos play Division-I football and do so in a competitive Mountain West Conference that features such teams as Texas Christian and Brigham Young. But Austin said what appealed to him most was the simple fact the school will offer him a major change of scenery.

“I just want to get out and see new things and meet new people,” said the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Austin. “The other schools recruiting me were all good but New Mexico just felt like the right decision after my trip there.”

Austin made an official visit to Mexico on Dec. 11. His other two finalists were Western Kentucky and Florida International University. Other schools who made him offers included Iowa State, Michigan State, Purdue, Richmond, South Florida, Towson and Central Florida.

“For selfish reasons, I wish he was staying a little closer to home so I could go see him play but I understand why he wants to go out west,” said Terriers coach Earl Garcia. “But he’s going to be playing in a great conference and he’s going where a former Hillsborough player, [wide receiver] Daryl Jones, just finished and had a good experience.”

Austin’s numbers the past three seasons makes him one of the Terriers’ all-time leaders in passing yardage. On top of his performance last fall, he produced 1,598 yards and 17 TDs as a junior and 857 yards and six TDs as a sophomore. Now, the next phase begins for the talented Terrier.

“I’m relieved the [college] decision is over,” Austin said. “Now it’s time to move on and get my career going there.”