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Georgia Tech Football 2017 player preview: #17 Lance Austin

By Jared Halus

Oct 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Lance Austin (17) returns a blocked kick for a game winning touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles in the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech defeated Florida State 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Lance Austin (17) returns a blocked kick for a game winning touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles in the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech defeated Florida State 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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The fourth 2017 player preview is that of senior Defensive Back, #17 Lance Austin.

Georgia Tech is returning eight starters on defense for the 2017 season, including senior defensive back and Georgia Tech legend, Lance Austin.

The Early years:

Lance attended Lamar County High School where he played on both sides of the ball. He started at Quarterback on offense and in the secondary on defense, so his athleticism is inevitable. In his senior year, Lance rushed for 1,097 yards and 19 touchdowns while passing for 827 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just one interception. On defense, Austin had 44 tackles, eight pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. His stellar senior year resulted in a 14-1 record and a runner-up finish in the state playoffs. Listed as a 3 star per rivals, 247 and scout, Lance chose the Yellow Jackets over SEC schools such as South Carolina and Mississippi State.

In his first season on the flats in 2014, Lance saw playing time in all 14 games of the season and recorded eleven tackles and broke up one pass. In 2015, Lance became a Georgia Tech legend. Though he only finished the season with five tackles, Lance Austin made one of the most memorable plays in Georgia Tech history. On October 24, 2015, Georgia Tech played ninth-ranked Florida State in what proved to be an incredible night for not only Tech fans, but Lance Austin. With time running out, the Yellow Jackets found themselves tied with the Seminoles. The only thing that stood between GT and overtime was a 56 yard Roberto Aguayo field goal. While a 56 yarder is a tall task for most college kickers, Roberto was without a doubt the best kicker in college football and had NEVER missed in the fourth quarter. That is until a blocked field goal gave Lance Austin a chance to solidify himself as a GT legend – and he did just that. Austin picked up the field goal and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown, ending Florida State’s 28 game regular season win streak.

Lance didn’t slow down in 2016. No, seriously – Lance Austin HAD A YEAR in his junior season for the Yellow Jackets. According to his Georgia Tech profile, Lance  *breath in* led the ACC in passes defended with 15, tied for most in the league with 12 pass breakups, tied for seventh in the ACC with three interceptions, led the team with four total takeaways, had 50 total tackles, and earned two ACC Defensive Back of the week honors.*breath out*. His best play of the year came against that red team from Athens. With 3:39 to go, Lance set up Georgia Tech’s game-winning drive after intercepting Jacob Eason.

What to expect in 2017:

In his final season, we expect Lance to continue playing like one of the top DB’s in the ACC.