WEST LONG BRANCH – To this point, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Mile Austin's career has been a series of firsts.

Chalk up another one for the NFL standout.

Austin, who played college football from 2002 to 2005, became the first Monmouth University player to have his jersey, number 80, retired by the school at a ceremony during Saturday night's basketball game.

“Its an unbelievably humbling experience, it is such an honor,” Austin said. “I wish I could verbalize it better, because it feels great.”

Austin’s college coach, Kevin Callahan, said Austin was deserving of the honor.

“I think it is fitting and appropriate that Miles Austin’s jersey is the first in program history to be retired,” Callahan said. “Miles has made significant contributions to the program, he set a standard for a level of performance at Monmouth and has continued to that in the NFL“

The notoriety has made Ausin one of Monmouth’s most recognizable alum.

“Miles has remained very close to the Monmouth program and frequently returns to campus to interact with our players,” Callahan said. “He’s been and continues to be a great ambassador of not just the football team but also the entire Monmouth University.”

And Austin credits Callahan’s mentorship with molding him into a better teammate.

“I appreciate the way he handled our entire team, the way we came to games in suits and how organized and disciplined we were as a team,” Austin said.” In the combines, in school, in class and in the building, they were a group of respectful guys who would fight so hard for one another.”

Austin enjoys personal bond to Monmouth – he met his fiancé, Stacy Sydlo, on his first visit to the school. The pair will be married next Saturday.

While at Monmouth University, Austin set multiple records. He is the school’s only three-time First Team All-Conference wide receiver, it’s all-time leader with 150 receptions, 2,867 total receiving yards, 33 receiving touchdowns, 12 100-yard receiving games and the only two 200-plus yard receiving games in school history.

Austin, who also holds school records for receiving yards in a single game, 235, and touchdowns in a single game, 4, credited his teammates for contributing to his achievements.

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“You were getting better because these guys were pushing you,” Austin said. “Everyone was trying to be their best, everyone was trying to push everyone to a high level. I wouldn’t have wanted to go to school with any other guys.”

Austin, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, took the accolades – and his fame – in stride.

In the NFL, the Garfield High School graduate owns the Dallas Cowboys record for single-game receiving, 250 yards, and longest playoff kickoff return, 93 yards –the bright lights of the gargantuan AT&T Stadium are as welcoming as the hashmarks on lilliputian Kessler Field.

“I don’t know how many we had, something like 5,000, but when the crowd gets into it, when you make a play and something good happens, it feels just as loud almost as if 100,000 people were cheering,” Austin said. “It looks different, but how it sounds and feels to me is the same regardless of the crowd size.”