Austin Turner '19 Recruiting Profile

As a head coach, a kicker can be your worst nightmare or your favorite player. My name is Austin Turner, and my goal is to be the latter.

I am 17 years old, and a member of the class of 2019 at Veritas Academy in Austin, Texas. In school and athletics, I have learned how to set goals, work hard, and get results.

Veritas has high standards for both athletics and academics. I play six-man football, in which the kicking game is even more crucial to victory than in 11-man football. An extra point is worth two points and a field goal is worth four points. This makes every kick vital to the success of my team. Over the past two seasons, I have experienced the blessing of hard work paying off. My team has won two state titles, posting a 24-3 record.

In some ways, my academic journey parallels my athletic story. Before my eighth grade year, I was diagnosed with dysgraphia, which makes writing very difficult. During my eighth grade and freshman years, I struggled academically, making average grades. Instead of settling for average and feeling sorry for myself because it was difficult to write, I resolved to work harder. I learned to type, increased my study time, and as a result received much higher grades, finishing my sophomore year with a 3.6 GPA. I also surprised myself with a great PSAT score, placing in the 97th percentile, outperforming many of my classmates.

My freshman year I played on the JV team but was moved up to varsity for the playoffs. Through an exciting playoff run and a hard fought state championship game, we claimed the first football state title for Veritas. It felt amazing, but as a fierce competitor, I wanted to win it again, contributing as a starter throughout the season this time.

My sophomore season started with three losses to good teams. We finished the rest of the season undefeated and claimed our second state title. Not only did I kick well, but made some key receptions and had three interceptions at crucial times during the playoffs.

After the season I have worked non-stop to hone my kicking skills in preparation for this season, next year and my college career. I’ve learned something that can’t be taught in a classroom - how to handle challenges, respond and win. If you need a leader, a mentally tough kicker, and a fierce competitor, I am your man.