Austin Massey eager to run Cleveland offense

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

AUSTIN MASSEYClevelandAthlete6-3, 235Colleges interested: UTC, MTSU, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Virginia TechCoach's quote: "Austin is definitely a prospect to look at. Nobody knows what position yet, but he has the ability to help a team at a number of different places." - Ron Crawford

photo Austin Massey

Austin Massey is the No. 10-ranked college football prospect among area high school seniors. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound quarterback, who is receiving interest from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee State and Kentucky, sat down with the Times Free Press recently before the start of his final prep season.

Q: The past three quarterbacks at Cleveland [Tucker Tipton, Chad Voytik, Austin Herink] have all gone on to play quarterback at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. What have you learned from them?

A: "Those guys were good. I got to study behind Chad, who's now at Pitt, and Austin, a great guy who's now at MTSU. I've always wanted to play quarterback, though, and I'm glad to be leading the team this year."

Q: Who do you think you compare to as a quarterback?

A: "I don't think I compare myself to anybody. I don't know if anybody compares me to anybody else. I just try to do whatever gets the job done."

Q: Because of your size, how long will it take before you start receiving the Tim Tebow comparisons?

A: "Until I run over my first person in a game."

Q: Do you think Coach Ron Crawford wants you running over people or getting down?

A: "I hope he wants me to run over guys, because that's fun. I like to do that."

Q: You're being recruited at so many positions. How hard is that?

A: "It gets hectic at times. When I was at the MTSU camp, there were times I'd throw a route, then go line up at tight end and run a route, then go do lineman stuff, then go guard somebody. I guess it depends: Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are looking at me as a linebacker, but UTC and Vanderbilt are looking at me as an H-back, and there are schools that just want me to play quarterback. I'll do whatever it takes to get the scholarship."

Q: If you had a choice, what would your position of preference be?

A: "I think I'd like to play quarterback. It depends on the situation, though, because if I'm behind a sophomore or junior that's really good, I don't want to play behind him, but if they wanted me to play receiver and I'd get to start, I'd do that. I'm just ready to play, so I'll do whatever gets me in quicker."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.