Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones compares Tavon Austin to Michael Irvin

It’s hard to believe that it’s been six years since wide receiver Tavon Austin was last seen on the field making plays for West Virginia. Not just making plays, but making people lose their mind over some of the things he was able to do. Austin is clearly one of the best players to ever come through West Virginia, and some would argue he was the most electrifying player in school history. It’s hard to argue against that.

During his career in Morgantown, he hauled in 288 receptions for 3,413 yards and 29 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,033 yards and six touchdowns on 110 carries.

Everyone knows the awards he’s won, the praise he received, the attention he brought to West Virginia and remember him being a top ten pick in the annual NFL Draft. This man needs no introduction.  Although since he has made the transition to the NFL, you haven’t heard his name as much as you would have expected.

In his five seasons spent with the St.Louis/Los Angeles Rams, Austin never eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in a season. In fact, he only tallied over 500 receiving yards once in 2016. The Rams seem as if they did not know how to utilize his talents. It was like trying to force a round peg into a square hole.

Despite the Rams giving Austin a four year contract extension in 2016, the team decided to move on from him and traded Austin this spring to the Dallas Cowboys for a 6th round draft pick. Shortly after being acquired from the Rams, the Cowboys rumored that they would line Austin up in the backfield more often to get the ball in his hands.

So far, the team has loved everything they have seen from Austin since the deal was made. Just recently, Cowboys Owner and President Jerry Jones compared him to one of the all-time Cowboy greats,” I like the energy 10 (Austin) is bringing. That’s inordinate because just by the nature of how we got him here and his pedigree, for him to bring along that really, it’s Michael Irvin-ish as far as the energy that he brings. I know the guys appreciate him.”

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott also commented on the addition of Austin,” he is a steal.”

Tavon Austin himself was quoted saying that he did not have the same drive as he once did. “For one my work ethic, my work ethic went out the window. I’m not saying I wasn’t working hard, but it went out the window. I didn’t work as hard as I used to,” stated Austin.

He went on further to say, “I didn’t respect the game enough. That’s what I’m doing again. I’m getting back to leaving the money and all that stuff alone and coming in and playing the sport that I love,” per Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.

Tavon Austin hopes the new change of playing for “America’s team” the Dallas Cowboys gets his career back into the shape we all know it can be. It should be interesting to see how the Cowboys use him throughout the 2018 season.

Is the real Tavon Austin primed to return?