Austin Aune
{{Short description|American football player (born 1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Austin Aune
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|9|6}}
| birth_place = Argyle, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 221
| high_school = Argyle
| college = Arkansas (2018)
North Texas (2018–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- Third-team All-C-USA (2022)
}}
Austin Palmer Aune ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɔː|n|i}} {{respell|AW|nee}}; born September 6, 1993) is a former American football quarterback. He is a former baseball player who was drafted by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft. He played six seasons in the minor leagues before being released. He then enrolled at North Texas, and was the oldest starting quarterback in FBS football at the age of 29.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-06 |title=College Football's Oldest Starting QB Graduated High School In 2012, Could Play Until He's 30 |url=https://www.outkick.com/austin-aune-north-texas-29-year-old-high-school-2012-oldest-quarterback-college-football/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=OutKick |language=en-US}}
Early life
Aune attended Argyle High School in Argyle, Texas. A two-sport star, he was the starting quarterback and also played shortstop on the baseball team. As a senior, he threw for 33 touchdowns and 3,411 yards while rushing for 9 touchdowns and 538 yards.{{Cite web |title=Austin Aune named starter at quarterback for North Texas Mean Green |url=https://www.texasfootball.com/articles/article/default.aspx?url=2022/08/17/austin-aune-named-starter-at-quarterback-for-north-texas-mean-green |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Dave Campbell's Texas Football}} A three-star quarterback prospect, he originally committed to TCU to play college football. But after being selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft, Aune was offered a $1 million signing bonus to sign for the Yankees and so he chose to play professional baseball over collegiate football.{{Cite web |last=Bahl|first=Dan|title=This Former New York Yankees Prospect is Thriving...as a College Football Player? |url=https://1045theteam.com/this-former-new-york-yankees-prospect-is-thriving-as-a-college-football-player/ |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=104.5 The Team ESPN Radio |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Austin Aune, top QB recruit, passes up on TCU glory for $1 million Yankees bonus |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/austin-aune-top-qb-recruit-passes-tcu-glory-153329066.html |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=sports.yahoo.com |date=June 20, 2012 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2012-06-06 |title=TCU quarterback commit Austin Aune signs with New York Yankees, will not be with team this season |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/tcu-horned-frogs/2012/06/06/tcu-quarterback-commit-austin-aune-signs-with-new-york-yankees-will-not-be-with-team-this-season/ |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}
Professional baseball career
Aune played six seasons of minor league baseball in the New York Yankees' farm system. During his tenure in the minor leagues, he recorded 20 home runs and 148 RBIs.{{Cite web |last=Rios |first=Preston |date=2019-10-24 |title=Local two-sport athlete revamps football career after professional baseball |url=https://www.ntdaily.com/local-two-sport-athlete-revamps-football-career-after-professional-baseball/ |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=North Texas Daily |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Austin Aune Minor Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=aune--000aus |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} After bouncing between several High-A and Single-A teams and switching from shortstop to outfielder, Aune had a career batting average of .226 with 20 home runs and 147 RBI. On August 1, 2017, Aune was released by New York.{{Cite web|title=Austin Aune Stats, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/austin-aune-622108|access-date=2023-05-16|website=milb.com|language=en}} In his time in the Yankees system, Aune appeared for the rookie-level Gulf Coast Yankees, Low-A Staten Island Yankees, Single-A Charleston RiverDogs, and High-A Tampa Yankees.{{Cite web |last=Huguenin |first=Mike |date=2022-09-05 |title=Almost 47 percent of FBS starting quarterbacks are transfers |url=https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/news/college-football-starting-quarterbacks-47-percent-are-transfers/ |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=On3 |language=en}}
College football career
=North Texas=
In 2018, months after being released by the Yankees, a 24-year-old Aune joined the Arkansas Razorbacks for their 2018 spring practice. He enrolled as a student, but the crowded quarterback room convinced him to transfer to North Texas instead.{{Cite web|url=https://hitthatline.com/hogs-will-now-have-seven-at-quarterback-position/|title=Hogs will now have seven at quarterback position|website=hitthatline.com|date=January 22, 2018 }}
==2018-2020==
Arriving at North Texas in 2018, he redshirted his freshman year. In 2019, he served as the third-string quarterback behind Mason Fine and Jason Bean, completing 4 of 5 passes for 136 yards in two appearances at quarterback. During the 2020 season, he backed up Bean while making eight appearances and three starts.{{Cite web|url=https://meangreensports.com/sports/football/roster/austin-aune/5496|title=Austin Aune|website=meangreensports.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/4360163|title=Austin Aune stats|website=espn.com}}
==2021==
After starting the season as a backup to junior transfer Jace Ruder, Aune won the starting position after week 5 and lead the Mean Green from a 1–3 start to a 6–6 finish in order to become bowl eligible, including an upset win over #22 UTSA, before losing to the Miami RedHawks in the 2021 Frisco Football Classic.
==2022==
Going into the 2022 season, Aune maintained his starting position against a crowded quarterback roster including Memphis transfer Grant Gunnell, leading the Mean Green to a 7–5 record and earning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors in week zero.{{Cite web|url=https://meangreensports.com/news/2022/8/29/football-aune-named-c-usa-offensive-player-of-the-week|title=Aune Named C-USA Offensive Player Of The Week|website=meangreensports.com}} During the 2022 Conference USA Championship Game, Aune set a school record for touchdown passes in a single season with 32, surpassing former teammate Mason Fine.{{Cite web |last=bvito@dentonrc.com |first=Brett Vito Staff Writer |title=Davis, Aune reach individual milestones in C-USA title game loss to UTSA |url=https://dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/mean_green/davis-aune-reach-individual-milestones-in-c-usa-title-game-loss-to-utsa/article_cab91f16-7e07-5302-ab4e-176839d21b45.html |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=Denton Record-Chronicle |date=December 2, 2022 |language=en}} Aune played his final career game in the 2022 Frisco Bowl, throwing for 238 yards and a touchdown in a 32–35 defeat.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-17 |title=QB Green and Boise State beat North Texas in Frisco Bowl |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/qb-green-and-boise-state-beat-north-texas-in-frisco-bowl/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} After the game, Aune declared for the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Vito |first=Brett |title=Source: Austin Aune plans to enter name in NFL draft following bowl game |url=https://dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/mean_green/source-austin-aune-plans-to-enter-name-in-nfl-draft-following-bowl-game/article_a5ed4bfe-6034-5b69-849d-b19510e0d882.html |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Denton Record-Chronicle |date=December 7, 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Carroll |first=James |date=2022-12-07 |title=QB Austin Aune to declare for NFL draft after Frisco Bowl |url=https://www.ntdaily.com/qb-austin-aune-to-declare-for-nfl-draft-after-frisco-bowl/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=North Texas Daily |language=en-US}} Shortly after the end of the season, Aune changed his mind and entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Chantz |title=Austin Aune, a 29-year-old college QB, enters transfer portal |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/austin-aune-29-year-old-qb-enters-college-football-transfer-portal |access-date=24 December 2022 |work=Fox News |date=23 December 2022}} On January 2, 2023, Aune withdrew from the transfer portal and redeclared for the upcoming NFL Draft.{{Cite web |last=Vito |first=Brett |title=UNT quarterback Austin Aune declares for NFL draft |url=https://dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/mean_green/unt-quarterback-austin-aune-declares-for-nfl-draft/article_7a06bb1c-bae0-5e66-96d7-4bd5e860c024.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Denton Record-Chronicle |date=January 2, 2023 |language=en}} Aune finished his collegiate career with a 13–13 record as a starter, with 488 completions for 7,324 yards, 56 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions.{{Cite web |title=Austin Aune College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/austin-aune-1.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}
= Statistics =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="5"| Rushing | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|North Texas Mean Green}}"| North Texas Mean Green | |||||||||||||||
| 2018
| colspan="15"| Redshirt File:Redshirt.svg | |||||||||||||||
| 2019
| 2 || 0 || 0–0 || 4 || 5 || 80.0 || 136 || 27.2 || 1 || 0 || 374.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2020
| 8 || 3 || 1–2 || 101 || 185 || 54.6 || 1,650 || 8.9 || 13 || 4 || 148.4 || 27 || 29 || 1.1 || 2 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021
| 13 || 9 || 5–4 || 151 || 295 || 51.2 || 1,991 || 6.7 || 9 || 9 || 111.8 || 80 || 325 || 4.1 || 3 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022
| 14 || 14 || 7–7 || 232 || 411|| 56.4 || 3,547 || 8.6 || 33 || 15 || 148.1 || 44 || 52 || 1.2 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Career{{cite web |publisher=Sports Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/austin-aune-1.html |title=Austin Aune College Stats |access-date=October 30, 2022}} | 37 | 26 | 13–13 | 488 | 896 | 54.5 | 7,324 | 8.2 | 56 | 28 | 137.5 | 151 | 406 | 2.7 | 6 |
Professional football career
{{NFL predraft|note=All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1047119&DraftYear=2023 |title=Austin Aune, DS #42 QB, North Texas |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}|height ft=6|height in=2|weight=215|dash=4.88|arm span=32 1/4|hand span=10 1/4|twenty split=2.63|ten split=1.64|vertical=27|broad ft=9|broad in=0|shuttle=4.23|cone drill=6.95}}
On May 1, 2023, Aune was invited to the Atlanta Falcons rookie minicamp.{{Cite web |last=Vito |first=Brett |title=Former UNT quarterback Austin Aune headed to Falcons rookie mini camp |url=https://dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/mean_green/former-unt-quarterback-austin-aune-headed-to-falcons-rookie-mini-camp/article_51f3c83d-8094-5121-a675-ed4c8c19f1f0.html |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Denton Record-Chronicle |date=May 2023 |language=en}} He signed with the team as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2023.{{cite web|title=Falcons sign four, release veteran tackle|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-sign-four-release-veteran-tackle-germain-ifedi|author=McElhaney, Tori|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=May 16, 2023}} He was waived by the team on June 16.{{Cite web|title=Falcons sign three minicamp tryout players|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/06/16/falcons-sign-three-minicamp-tryout-players/|access-date=2023-06-16|website=NBCSports.com|date=June 16, 2023 }}
Personal life
Aune is the son of Greg and Karen Aune.{{cite web | last=Abend | first=Harold | title=Abend: Aune keeps busy as two-sport athlete | website=ESPN.com | date=2011-08-10 | url=https://www.espn.com/high-school/baseball/story/_/id/7729224/aune-keeps-busy-two-sport-athlete | access-date=2024-09-03}} Austin Aune married Kristin Massey in May 2021,{{Cite web |last=Vito|first=Brett|title=Live, love, play: UNT quarterbacks find comfort in committed relationships while competing for starting job |url=https://dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/mean_green/live-love-play-unt-quarterbacks-find-comfort-in-committed-relationships-while-competing-for-starting-job/article_f6dd5640-c543-54c8-b3cb-87b4cec09210.html |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Denton Record-Chronicle |date=August 25, 2021 |language=en}} and they have a daughter.
References
External links
{{baseball stats|brm=aune--000aus}}
- [https://meangreensports.com/sports/football/roster/austin-aune/5496 North Texas Mean Green bio]
- {{instagram|austinaune}}
{{North Texas Mean Green quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aune, Austin}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Baseball players from Denton County, Texas
Category:Charleston RiverDogs players
Category:Gulf Coast Yankees players
Category:North Texas Mean Green football players
Category:Players of American football from Denton County, Texas
Category:Staten Island Yankees players