Rutgers football: Blessuan Austin back healthy, ready to lead experienced secondary

Josh Newman | Asbury Park Press

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PISCATAWAY -- Blessuan Austin had a big sophomore season for Rutgers in 2016, recording 41 tackles and 15 passes defensed on his way to honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

Had the cornerback put together another strong season last fall, bypassing his final year of eligibility for the NFL Draft would have been a rational move. We will never know how Austin played and how that affected his plans after he was lost to a torn ACL at Nebraska on Sept. 23.

Still, even with the injury and rehabilitation in front of him, leaving for the NFL was still seemingly on the table. Austin wouldn't have been the first player drafted while injured, but cooler, more rational heads ultimately prevailed.

“He’s a realist, he wasn’t ready," third-year Rutgers head coach Chris Ash said. "He hadn’t done enough to warrant even entertaining that to be honest with you. He needs to come back, get developed, and play some good football, get some good tape out there, and hopefully have that opportunity when it’s over."

"I gave it a little thought, but anybody would to be honest with you," Austin said. "With an injury like that, it’s a little traumatizing. You think about what happens if you come back and it happens again. Then again, it could happen to anybody at any time. I don’t regret coming back at all. I need to get bigger, stronger, get my leg stronger than ever before.”

Austin is back at Rutgers for at least one more season. The Queens native was limited during spring practice, but he and Ash both expected that he would be a full participant once training camp opened on Aug. 2.

During the spring, Austin, specifically, offered great optimism. He said rehab had gone well and he felt healthy. His greatest frustration, half-jokingly, was feeling like he could contribute in spring practice, but knowing he had to be smart about it.

“I’ve been playing against that guy since high school," said senior linebacker Deonte Roberts, a Brooklyn native who, like Roberts, is a product of the PSAL. "He’s making the same plays he made back then, it just looks crazier now. He’s balling right now, and I’m glad to have him back. He looks really good. He’s flying. I just can’t wait see him play this year.”

Austin was indeed 100 percent healthy and a full participant when training camp began. Barring something unforeseen, he will start at one cornerback spot when the Scarlet Knights open Saturday against Texas State (Noon, Big Ten Network).

“I’ve been around some great corners, I think Bless has a chance to be one of the better ones I’ve been around," said Ash, who was previously the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and Ohio State. "He has length, he has skill, he’s tough, and I’m excited to watch him play. Hopefully, he’ll be a difference-maker for our defense."

“I think he definitely has pro potential, no question," first-year cornerbacks coach Cory Robinson said. "The thing with it is, I try to tell him not to focus on that. The things that are going to happen for him, are going to happen. It’s about him mastering his process. If he can master his process, inevitably, he can become a master of his results.

"That’s the challenge with Bless. Mastering the daily process that it takes to become a pro, so that the results lead you to that goal. Without a doubt, he has that potential if he continues to work hard and give it his best."

Austin will lead a secondary that is not short on experience. He has started 25 of the 26 games he has played in over three seasons, while senior Isaiah Wharton has started all 36 games of his career at cornerback.

Kiy Hester, Saquon Hampton, and Damon Hayes have played in a combined 72 games, making safety another spot where Ash should not have a ton of question marks.

“I probably feel as good about our corner position right now, today, as I have at any time since I’ve been here, and especially, I think compared to all the units on our football team, it’s one of the strengths," Ash said. "Our secondary could be a real strength of our football team."

Staff writer Josh Newman: jnewman@app.com; @Joshua_Newman