Austin Appleby
{{Short description|American gridiron football player and coach (born 1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Austin Appleby
| image = File:Austin Appleby.jpg
| caption = Appleby with the Florida Gators in 2016
| current_team = Purdue Boilermakers
| number =
| position = Offensive analyst
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|6|4}}
| birth_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 239
| high_school = Hoover (North Canton, Ohio)
| college = Purdue (2012–2015)
Florida (2016)
| undraftedyear = 2017
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
- Orlando Apollos ({{AAF Year|2019}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2020}})*
| pastcoaching =
- Mount Union (2018)
Quarterbacks coach & pass game coordinator - Central Michigan (2019)
Offensive analyst - Quarterbacks - Missouri State (2020–2022)
Wide receivers coach - UAB (2023-2024)
Wide receivers coach - Purdue (2025-present)
Offensive analyst
| highlights =
| pfr = ApplAu00
}}
Austin Michael Appleby (born June 4, 1993) is an American football coach and former quarterback. He was most recently the wide receivers coach for UAB. He played college football at Purdue University from 2012 to 2015 for coaches Danny Hope and Darrell Hazell, before graduate transferring to the University of Florida where here he played for coach Jim McElwain in 2016 and played in the Alliance of American Football in 2019. He was a consensus 3-star high school prospect as a senior.
Early life
Appleby attended Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio. While at Hoover, Appleby played three sports (baseball, basketball, and football) during his freshman and sophomore years. As a member of the varsity football team in 2009, Appleby served as a backup quarterback for the Vikings, who would go on to lose in the State Semi-Final game.
As a junior in 2010, Appleby was named the starting quarterback but eight weeks into the season, he suffered a torn ACL, ending his season.{{Cite web |last=Bill Gould |date=August 7, 2011 |title=Hard work pays off for North Canton's Austin Appleby |url=http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/hard-work-pays-off-for-austin-appleby |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124061020/http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/hard-work-pays-off-for-austin-appleby |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |access-date=November 26, 2014 |website=www.newsnet5.com |publisher=Scripps TV Station Group}} Despite his injury, Appleby was invited to the ESPN RISE Elite 11 Camp in 2011, after qualifying at a regional camp at Ohio State University.{{Cite web |last=Todd Porter |date=May 31, 2011 |title=Hoover's Appleby is invited to elite QB camp |url=http://www.fridaynightohio.com/news/hoovers-appleby-invited-elite-qb-camp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015612/http://www.fridaynightohio.com/news/hoovers-appleby-invited-elite-qb-camp |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=November 26, 2014 |website=www.fridaynightohio.com |publisher=GateHouse Ohio}}
Appleby was named the best in chalk talk during the camp.{{Cite web |last=Mitch Sherman |date=July 23, 2011 |title=Trio share MVP honors at Elite 11 |url=http://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/6794915/trio-share-mvp-honors-elite-11 |access-date=November 26, 2014 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}} Following his Elite 11 performance, Appleby's recruiting picked up momentum, landing his first power conference scholarship offer from Louisville.{{Cite web |last=Todd Porter |date=June 9, 2011 |title=Hoover QB Austin Appleby drawing plenty of attention from college recruiters |url=http://www.fridaynightohio.com/news/hoover-qb-austin-appleby-drawing-plenty-attention-college-recruiters |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015601/http://www.fridaynightohio.com/news/hoover-qb-austin-appleby-drawing-plenty-attention-college-recruiters |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=November 26, 2014 |website=www.fridaynightohio.com |publisher=GateHouse Ohio}} Just a few days following the Louisville offer, Appleby was offered by Purdue, and Appleby made his commitment to the Boilermakers on June 29, 2011.{{Cite web |last=M Dyer |date=June 30, 2011 |title=Hoover's Austin Appleby reportedly commits to Purdue |url=http://www.ohio.com/blogs/varsity-letters/varsity-letters-1.279974/hoover-s-austin-appleby-reportedly-commits-to-purdue-1.281760 |access-date=November 26, 2014 |website=www.ohio.com |publisher=The Akron Beacon Journal}}
{{College athlete recruit start|40=yes|collapse=no|year=2013}}
{{College athlete recruit entry
| recruit = Austin Appleby
| position = QB
| hometown = North Canton, Ohio
| highschool = Hoover High School
| feet = 6
| inches = 5
| weight = 228
| 40 = 4.9
| commitdate = June 29, 2011
| scout stars = 3
| rivals stars = 3
| 247 stars = 3
| espn stars = 3
| espn grade = 75
}}
{{College athlete recruit end
| 40 =
| year = 2012
| rivals ref title = Purdue Football Commitment List (26)
| scout ref title = Purdue College Football Recruiting Commits
| espn ref title = ESPN
| rivals school = purdue
| scout s = 180
| espn schoolid = 2509
| scout overall = 62 (QB)
| rivals overall = – (QB), – (OH), – (National)
| espn overall = 88 (QB), 76 (OH), 171 (Midwest)
| accessdate = November 7, 2014
| bball =
}}
College career
=Purdue=
Appleby was redshirted as a true freshman in 2012. In 2013, he appeared in one game as a reserve. In 2014, Purdue had a quarterback position battle in fall practice, this time between Appleby, Danny Etling, and true freshman David Blough. Appleby pushed hard for the starting spot over the entrenched Etling, but fell just short and was named the backup on August 18.{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2014 |title=Purdue picks Etling over Appleby as starting QB |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/08/18/purdue-picks-etling-over-appleby-as-starting-qb/14240433/ |access-date=November 26, 2014 |website=www.usatoday.com |publisher=USA Today}} Etling would lead Purdue to a 2–3 record of the first five games of the season, before Darrell Hazell turned to Appleby to start Purdue's 6th game against Illinois.{{Cite web |last=Todd Porter |date=October 10, 2014 |title=Former Hoover QB Appleby takes over at Purdue |url=http://www.cantonrep.com/article/20141010/Sports/141019897 |access-date=November 26, 2014 |website=www.cantonrep.com |publisher=Gatehouse Media, Inc.}} Appleby led Purdue to a 38–27 victory, Hazell's first Big Ten Conference victory.{{Cite web |last=Pete DiPrimio |date=October 4, 2014 |title=Appleby leads Purdue to first Big Ten win |url=http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20141004/SPORTS/141009806 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008224917/http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20141004%2FSPORTS%2F141009806 |archive-date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=October 6, 2014 |website=www.news-sentinel.com |publisher=News-Sentinel}}
On August 25, 2015, head coach Darrell Hazell named Appleby the starting quarterback for the opening game of the 2015 season.{{Cite news |last=Carmin |first=Mike |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Austin Appleby named Purdue's starting QB |work=The Indianapolis Star |url=http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/purdue/2015/08/25/appleby-named-purdues-quarterback/32353377/ |access-date=August 27, 2015}} On September 22, 2015, it was announced that Appleby will be replaced as the starting quarterback in favor of redshirt freshman, David Blough.{{Cite web |last=Michael Osipoff |date=September 22, 2015 |title=David Blough takes over for Austin Appleby as Purdue's quarterback |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-football-purdue-st-0923-20150922-story.html |access-date=December 16, 2015 |website=www.chicagotribune.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune}} Appleby returned to his starting role when Blough was injured during the November 21, game at Iowa. Following the conclusion of the season, Appleby was given his release to explore transfer options as a graduate student.{{Cite web |last=Mike Carmin |date=December 11, 2015 |title=Purdue's Appleby exploring transfer options. |url=http://www.jconline.com/story/sports/college/purdue/football/2015/12/11/purdue-football-applebyexploring-options/77174358/ |access-date=December 16, 2015 |website=www.jconline.com |publisher=Lafayette Journal & Courier}}
=Florida=
On January 4, 2016, Appleby announced his decision to play his final year of college football at the University of Florida as a graduate transfer.{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2016 |title=QB Austin Appleby transfers to Florida, eligible to play immediately |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/14506361/purdue-boilermakers-quarterback-austin-appleby-transferring-florida-gators |access-date=January 5, 2016 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}} Under head coach Jim McElwain, Appleby competed with Luke Del Rio for the starting quarterback position, and lost out to Del Rio. After an injury early in the season to Del Rio, Appleby started seven games for the Gators in the 2016 season. Despite finishing with a 4–3 record as a starter, Appleby helped lead Florida to an SEC East title and a berth in the 2016 SEC Championship Game. In the 2017 Outback Bowl and his last game as a Gator, Appleby passed for 222 yards in a 30–3 defeat of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
=Statistics=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="15" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Purdue Boilermakers}};"| Purdue Boilermakers | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="7"| Passing ! colspan="4"| Rushing | ||||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Yds | Pct | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| 2012
| 0 || 0 || — || colspan="11"| Redshirted | ||||||||||||||
| 2013
| 1 || 0 || 0–0 || 5 || 6 || 68 || 83.3 || 1 || 0 || 233.5 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2014
| 10 || 7 || 1–6 || 144 || 272 || 1,449 || 52.9 || 10 || 11 || 101.7 || 61 || 198 || 3.2 || 5 | ||||||||||||||
| 2015
| 5 || 4 || 1–3 || 119 || 207 || 1,260 || 57.5 || 8 || 8 || 113.6 || 56 || 92 || 1.6 || 4 | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="15" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida Gators|border=2|color=white}}"| Florida Gators | ||||||||||||||
| 2016
| 9 || 7 || 4–3 || 127 || 209 || 1,447 || 60.8 || 10 || 7 || 128.0 || 41 || -45 || -1.1 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Career{{Cite web |title=Austin Appleby |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/austin-appleby-1.html |access-date=January 3, 2017 |website=www.sports-reference.com |publisher=USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties}} | 25 | 18 | 6–12 | 395 | 694 | 4,224 | 56.9 | 29 | 26 | 114.3 | 158 | 245 | 1.6 | 9 |
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys=
Appleby was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2017 NFL draft on May 12.{{Cite web |last=Phillips, Rob |date=May 21, 2017 |title=Cowboys Officially Sign 13 Rookie Free Agents Leading Into Rookie Minicamp |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-officially-sign-13-rookie-free-agents-leading-into-rookie-minicam-432126 |website=DallasCowboys.com}} On June 5, he was waived and was replaced with quarterback Zac Dysert.{{Cite web |last=Phillips, Rob |date=June 5, 2017 |title=Cowboys Sign QB For Depth, Waive Undrafted Rookie Austin Appleby |url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2017/06/05/cowboys-sign-qb-depth-waive-undrafted-rookie-austin-appleby |website=DallasCowboys.com}}{{Cite web |last=Martin, Sean |date=June 6, 2017 |title=COWBOYS Cowboys Add Journeyman QB Zac Dysert, Waive Austin Appleby |url=https://insidethestar.com/cowboys-add-journeyman-qb-zac-dysert-waive-austin-appleby/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903021309/https://insidethestar.com/cowboys-add-journeyman-qb-zac-dysert-waive-austin-appleby/ |archive-date=September 3, 2017 |access-date=September 2, 2017 |publisher=insidethestar.com}}
=Orlando Apollos=
In 2018, he signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football.{{Cite news |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Birmingham Iron holds No. 2 choice in AAF's quarterback draft |work=The Birmingham News |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2018/11/birmingham-iron-holds-no-2-choice-in-aafs-quarterback-draft.html |access-date=November 28, 2018}} On November 27, Appleby was selected by the Orlando Apollos in the third round of the AAF QB Draft.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Ryan |date=November 27, 2018 |title=Alliance of American Football QB Draft: Aaron Murray, Christian Hackenberg highlight QBs taken |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/alliance-of-american-football-qb-draft-aaron-murray-christian-hackenberg-highlight-qbs-taken/ |access-date=November 27, 2018 |publisher=CBSSports.com}} He was a backup behind Garrett Gilbert until the league folded in April 2019.{{Cite web |last=Rothstein |first=Michael |last2=Wickersham |first2=Seth |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26957796/inside-short-unhappy-life-alliance-american-football |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}
Appleby tried out for the XFL in a summer showcase on July 3, 2019,{{Cite news |last=Scalzo, Joe |date=July 14, 2019 |title=Austin Appleby heads to Central Michigan with one eye on the XFL |work=CantonRep.com |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/sports/20190714/austin-appleby-heads-to-central-michigan-with-one-eye-on-xfl |access-date=October 20, 2019}} but was not selected in the 2020 XFL Draft in October 2019.
=Winnipeg Blue Bombers=
Appleby signed a futures contract for the 2020 CFL season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on November 1, 2019.{{Cite news |date=November 1, 2019 |title=THE TEAM SIGNS FIVE PLAYERS TO FUTURES CONTRACTS |work=BlueBombers.com |url=https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/11/01/club-signed-5-players-future-contracts/ |access-date=November 18, 2019}} He retired from playing professional football on March 18, 2020.{{Cite news |date=March 18, 2020 |title=Bombers place quarterback Austin Appleby on the retired list |work=3downnation.com |url=https://3downnation.com/2020/03/18/bombers-place-quarterback-austin-appleby-on-the-retired-list/ |access-date=March 24, 2020}}
Coaching career
Appleby was hired by Central Michigan as a quality control coach after the AAF folded in April 2019. He resigned from his position after the 2019 season, to sign with the Blue Bombers. On March 18, 2020, Appleby accepted the wide receivers assistant coach position at Missouri State University, where he remained for three years. In December 2022, he was hired as the wide receivers coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Appleby had been coached by UAB head coach Trent Dilfer when he was an Elite 11 contestant in high school. https://uabsports.com/news/2023/1/26/football-meet-the-staff-austin-appleby-wide-receivers On December 5, 2024, Dilfer announced that Appleby would not be retained, as UAB made several changes to their coaching staff after a disappointing season. https://www.bhambanner.com/archive-1/sgyl6b6xw5ptxce-dedft-jbea5-83na8-2wjyj-wpn26-jyexb-5ygw7-67etl-8mm5z-ep9c4-xppat-5e2hp-bw5sm-n34j3-dshyy-pmwkz-jpajx-gy8ye-fd84s
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Twitter}}
- [https://purduesports.com/sports/football/roster/austin-appleby/1208 Purdue Boilermakers profile]
- [https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/austin-appleby/6255 Florida Gators profile]
{{Purdue Boilermakers quarterback navbox}}
{{Florida Gators quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Appleby, Austin}}
Category:People from North Canton, Ohio
Category:Players of American football from Stark County, Ohio
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Purdue Boilermakers football players
Category:Florida Gators football players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Orlando Apollos players
Category:Central Michigan Chippewas football coaches
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:Missouri State Bears football coaches
Category:Mount Union Purple Raiders football coaches
Category:Canadian football quarterbacks