Interview: 2022 Arkansas QB Austin Myers has All the P5 Tools Earning Kansas Jayhawks Offer
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
If college scouts only went by statistical measures for players coming out of the high school and junior college ranks, a lot of All-Conference, All-Americans, and NFL Pro Bowl players would have been left in their respective hometowns talking about what could have been. For Class of 2022 Vilonia High School gunslinger Austin Myers, his sophomore season with the Eagles showed the full arsenal of what he can be with a little more time and development. The 6-4, 185-pound, quarterback has a live arm, quick release, and is quick and athletic capable of dropping back in a hurry, escaping the pocket for positive gains, and can throw on the run. After throwing for 1,303 yards with 12 touchdowns against Arkansas 5A competition in 2019, the spring evaluation period brought Myers’ first offer last week from the Kansas Jayhawks.
With national interest rising, Myers sat down for another RNG interview covering his offseason workouts (see video below) with an update on his rapidly growing recruiting process.
Interview
Austin, we spoke last at the end of your sophomore season covering all that went on for you then. Since the season ended, what have you been working on with your technique as a quarterback?
“This offseason I have been working on my accuracy, footwork – a lot of footwork. It has been a weird time with the virus. Throwing into a net is not ideal, but that is what I have been doing.”
The wing is looking good and sharp off your workout videos. What have you been doing to develop your arm strength?
“Focusing on arms almost every day when I workout doing bench, biceps, triceps, and pull-ups. No gyms in my area have been open. I have a weight set at home, and do the most that I can to develop arm strength through my workouts. I am trying to tie my arm strength into my footwork and delivery.”
In your QB drill workout video, it looks like you were airmailing the pigskin about 60-65 yards. How far are you slinging it on the vertical routes?
“Yes, sir. Around 65 yards is where I am at right now.”
Nice. How have you worked to expand your understanding of the game this spring?
“The best thing is YouTube. I YouTube all that I that can to learn more and I bought Kansas offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Brent Dearmon’s (Auburn/Arkansas Tech/Bethel) book. It is a book on the RPO (run-pass option) offense. It is giving me a better understanding of the game.”
What style of offense will the Eagles run in 2020?
“We run a Spread no-huddle.”
Over the last few months, what have you been doing with your skill players to develop the chemistry needed on the field this fall?
“Our field has been closed down; it just opened back up. We now have receiver and quarterback practices. I get about 10 receivers out there, and we work for about two hours. We will do this every day until football starts.”
Drilling a little deeper from my earlier question. I have seen your workout video; I know you are getting after it. What has been your daily workout routine?
“One day I will do an arm workout and throw, and then the next day I will do a leg workout and throw. I alternate arms and legs every other day and throw every day.”
Is there an aspect to your game that maybe was not showcased last season that you will get to display more of this year?
“Probably my ability to run. I have been working on my 40 this offseason trying to get faster. I was a pocket passer last year, but I want to add running to my game to be that much more dangerous.”
Going into recruiting. That first very big offer was dropped by Kansas on Wednesday, June 10. Silly question of the day, but what was that moment like for you when all the hard work put into your skills came to fruition, and to a Power 5 program too?
“I was so grateful. Growing up – I have been working hard forever for this to happen. I always knew my hard work would pay off. I was really excited to get an offer from a program like Kansas – a Power 5 program too. That was one of the best moments of my life.”
Which schools are showing interest now?
“Baylor, TCU, Florida State, Cal, Iowa State, and Arkansas.”
Once the campuses open up, are there any planned trips you may take?
“Yes, sir. I want to visit Kansas during the season for a football game and during the basketball season to see a basketball game. Besides that, I know I will try to get others but I am not sure which ones yet.”
Austin, congratulations, again, on receiving the offer from Kansas. Keep up the hard work this summer.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Myers family; Austin Myers