Interview: 3-Star 2022 Arkansas QB Austin Myers Talks Under Armour Dallas Experience

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

RNG on Twitter

When you are the top-rated quarterback in your state, you have no choice but to ball out when competing against other top players across the country, whether at a camp or a 7v7 tournament. Over the weekend, three-star Class of 2022 gunslinger Austin Myers traveled from Vilonia to Dallas demonstrating why he is considered the best in Arkansas. The 6-4, 190-pound, talent showcased his footwork, mobility, athleticism (4.9 laser), and gun for an arm at the Under Armour All-American Regional. And, he did all without any real warmup after finishing his basketball season with the Eagles on Wednesday, a season that saw him earn All-State and All-Conference honors.

The march on Dallas was just the beginning for Myers this offseason. Myers will be returning to Texas and heading to Las Vegas and Alabama playing 7v7 tournaments and is awaiting the opening of college camps this summer. While he travels around the country spinning it against the best of the best, he will be doing so with two offers on the table and D-I interest rising across the country.

Interview

Austin, anytime a player steps on the field they want to get better no matter if it is in practice or in a game. During the 2020 season, how did you improve your game overall?

My accuracy improved and I also got faster. I was able to be more agile and I moved around in the pocket more. I had worked on that a lot in the offseason. My accuracy improved a lot, that was something I really worked on.

As you see more schemes, disguises, and have more thrown at you from inside the box and off the edge, how has that changed your ability to read defenses?

Being able to study at home, studying the defenses makes a difference in the games. I will prepare by watching up to eight hours of game film for each team. When I come to the line, I know what the defensive line, safeties, corners, and linebackers will do. I think that is what gives me the advantage during my reads.

How has that knowledge helped you breakdown game film through the week that translates on Friday night?

The biggest thing I look for is tendencies. Every player has a tendency. For example, a corner may step back or forward on the snap. By seeing that in the game, I know what they will do and the coverage they are in or their alignment they are running. If they press, I know what they are about to do.

Switching sports. Vilonia just had a great run on the hardwood. How did the basketball season go for you personally?

I think it was a great season overall. I came in right at the beginning of conference after my injury, which was on my shooting hand. We finished second in conference behind a good Russellville team. We beat them at home and they beat us at their place. This season we made it to state, but we didn’t make it all the way. Overall, we had a good season.

With the season turned in, have you received any post-season honors?

I have an idea of what I may receive, 5A All-State and 5A West All-Conference. All the other schools are putting out their honors already. Our head coach is also coaching the girls’ varsity team. He should be putting out the postseason honors soon.

Now that basketball is over, what are you going to focus on with your fundamentals this spring?

I will definitely be working on my mechanics and making sure everything is fine-tuned. This offseason I will be working on my accuracy with my receivers and my footwork in the pocket. Now that basketball is over, I am hitting the ground running this spring and summer.

Camp season is underway, are there any camps you’ve been to yet or any coming up you may attend?

I just went to the Under Armour All-American Regional in Dallas. Coming up I will be going to the Elite 11 Regional in Nashville. We have a lot of 7v7 Pylon tournaments in the next couple of weeks. We are going to Dallas, Vegas, and Alabama. As for college camps, I am waiting for recruiting to open up allowing us to go on campus. For now, that is all I know of for camps and 7v7 tournaments.

How did the Under Armour Camp in Dallas go for you?

It was awesome. I had a lot of fun. It was great to learn from some of the best coaches out there. One of their quarterback coaches had 15 years in the NFL. It was a lot of fun.

What were some of the drills they had the quarterbacks doing?

Some were footwork drills, drops, movement in the pocket, and a lot of accuracy throws.

How did you feel about your personal performance against some of the top players in the region?

I thought I did great. I feel that I represented Arkansas well. It was all Texas quarterbacks out there. I am pretty sure I was the only quarterback from Arkansas at the camp. I had a lot of fun. It was a good time.

Seeing those guys in action, what do you feel separates you from the other high-level recruits in your class?

I’d say my accuracy is what separates me. I am hitting guys in the nose every time. That is how quarterbacks get paid, their accuracy. My accuracy was the thing that separated me from the others at the camp.

Let’s close on recruiting. Which programs are showing interest after your junior season?

Colorado, they are showing a lot of interest, Indiana, Louisville, Memphis, Arkansas State, Yale, Hawaii, and Harvard.

Which schools have offered?

Kansas and Middle Tennessee.

If and when visits begin again this summer, are there any programs you’d like to go see?

Yes, for sure. I’d love to visit Colorado. All the schools that have contacted me, I want to visit all of them. I want to evaluate all my options.

Austin, it was great catching up with you today. Wishing you great success with your 7v7 season and upcoming camps until we talk again.

Thank you, sir.

Contribute Now

Photo credit: Myers family; Austin Myers