One of the top-rated prospects in the country, Austin Box (6-3, 215, 4.6), a versatile Scout.com four-star linebacker from Enid (Okla.), can do it all--baseball, football, offense or defense.
“Football is my true passion and my main focus right now,” Box said. “I have offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas Tech and Michigan State right now. I’m being recruited by USC, Miami, Tennessee and Notre Dame also.”
Box, an instinctive, incredible hitter on defense, said that he heavily favors Oklahoma over Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Notre Dame and USC.
“OU is the front runner right now,” he said. “I know the school really well. I have two sisters that graduated from there and have lots of ties there. It’s only a two-hour drive from my house. My family has been Sooner fans my whole life and growing up it was always a dream of mine to some day play for them. I know just by stepping on that field, I’d be fulfilling a lifetime dream of mine.
“Oklahoma was the first to offer me last November. I’ve talked to all the coaches a lot and they’ve told me I have a chance to come in and make an early impact at outside linebacker.
“I also like Oklahoma State. They’ve been recruiting me the hardest,” he said. “I got letters from 11 different coaches in the same week, all with little notes telling me how much they want me to come there. I’ve talked to Coach (Joe) DeForrest the most. He said I could start as a freshman. I really like the coaching staff there a lot. They’ve done a really good job. I went to junior day there. I think I could be really comfortable at State.”
Box is also looking at Nebraska, Kansas and Tech. USC and Notre Dame are in the mix, although neither have not offered.
“I’ve always respected Nebraska since they are big rivals of OU. I’ve watched them since I can remember and know what a strong team they are,” Box said. “They have such a great tradition. I haven’t got to meet the coaches, but I’ve talked with Coach (Bill) Callahan and Coach (John) Blake. I would like to go for an unofficial visit or a camp there so I can learn more about what they have to offer.
“Kansas State is the same as Nebraska,” Box said. “I haven’t been there, but I get letters from them every week. I’ve talked with Coach (Tim) McCarty before. They said I have a chance to come in a make an impact early.
“I also like Texas Tech a lot. I’d never been down there until I went to junior day a couple of weeks ago. I really liked the facilities. I spoke with head coach Mike Leach and he joked about the way their offense was going. He said they were looking at me for tight end or receiver also. I was really flattered that they think I can do so much.
“I think I was most impressed with the campus at Notre Dame,” Box said. I went to their junior day and just really was in awe of everything there. They have great tradition. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Coach (Charlie) Weis personally, but I have gotten letters from them. I really like Notre Dame for the academics too. I mean, going to the NFL after college would always be something, but I want to make sure I get a good education to set my life up after college.
“USC has been recruiting me too,” he said. “I haven’t been out to California but I’ve talked to Coach (Pete) Carroll a couple of times on the phone. He said that Coach Brennan Carroll is coming out this spring to see me play. I would love to go out there. Distance is not a factor. I haven’t ruled them out yet."
Box said he is also being recruited for baseball (centerfield) by Georgia Tech, Stanford and Michigan State.
“I don’t plan on pursing baseball in college,” he said. “I want to concentrate on football. Maybe I’ll look at the draft down the line, but for now I am more interested in defense.”
With his heavy baseball schedule, Box doesn’t have any camps or combines planned as of yet.
“I really would like to commit before my senior season,” he said. “I’m going to try to take as many official visits as I can, but I don’t have anything planned as of yet. My family would like me to go down the street to OU. I really would like to be at a school where they could come see me play.
“I’ve been playing football ever since I can remember,” Box said. “I like to think I have good instincts and a nose for the ball on the defensive side. This summer I plan to work on my speed more. Speed is always something the colleges are looking at.”
Final junior (4-6) stats: QB 1400 passing yards/16 TDs/800 yards rushing/13 TDs
Bench: 300/Squat: 425
Box reports a 3.7 core GPA/23 ACT