5’7 165 HEART CAN’T BE MEASURED | 2027 RB Austee’n Mills | Orange Park HS

In this Episode he discusses playing bigger than his size, What Drives him, upcoming Senior Season and much more…

0:00 - Introduction

0:23 - Being underestimated because of his size

1:00 - Playing Physical

1:32 - Shiftiness or Power?

2:05 - OL that blocks great for him

2:33 - Orange Park Run Scheme

2:45 - Favorite type of run

3:19 - Pass Blocking

3:57 - Spring game recap

5:04 - Summer Progress

5:35 - Team he is looking forward to playing

6:17 - HS Rival

6:43 - Multi-Sport Athlete

7:44 - Camp Mentality

8:11 - Motivation despite Adversity

8:50 - Proving Doubters wrong

9:31 - Toughest LB He faced

10:09 - SR Season stats

11:22 - Orange Park Offense

11:53 - Catching out of backfield or slot?

12:24 - Swing pass or Screen pass?

12:54 - Stiff Arm

14:11 - Last Message

14:33 - Rapid Fire

15:39 - DOWNLOAD, RATE, & REVIEW

Twitter: @behindTW904

Transcript

Introduction

Coach Moss 0:01

5'7, 165 pounds. Heart, you can't measure that. From Orange Park High School. He's not the biggest, he's not the tallest. He's just not tackled. Low to the ground, tough to find, tougher to bring down. Defenses says he's too small. He says bet. Orange Park Workhorse. Austee'n Mills, welcome to Behind the Whistle 904.

Austee'n 0:21

Yes, sir. It's nice to be on.

Being underestimated because of his size

Coach Moss 0:23

Yes, sir. Thanks for coming on again. So, um, too small. You probably heard people telling you that since you was playing in Pop Warner. Like, what do you say to people that think that just because you're 5'7 and 165 pounds, that you can't be a running back?

Austee'n 0:38

Yes, sir. I mean, I think at the end of the day, um, if you could ball, you could ball, you know what I'm saying? Like, um, I give it a lot, a lot of people call me short, a lot of people call me small. They, you know what I'm saying? They look at me and think I ain't gonna do much in the game until I get the ball in my hands and I make a play. So, you know what I'm saying? I really just disregard them and just play my game.

Coach Moss 0:58

Yes, sir. So,

Playing Physical

Coach Moss 1:00

like from watching your film, you you play a lot bigger and you play like you're a big physical back. Like what kind of allows you to play that tough, even though you you're small?

Austee'n 1:11

Uh yes, sir. I mean, uh I believe that um I work in a weight room really just proves that I could play with those bigger guys, you know what I'm saying? And just play with uh Heart over mind type of game. Um just don't have no fear in the on the field, you know what I'm saying? Just disregard all that. As soon as you step on the field, it's just we all bleed the same way, so ain't no reason to be scared of them.

Shiftiness or Power?

Coach Moss 1:32

Definitely. So you so when you when you run up against a linebacker, just say you got to the second level, are you the type of back that likes to try to run them over, or are you gonna try to make em miss with like a juke move?

Austee'n 1:45

Um, I think in the past I've missed a lot of opportunities where I try to run somebody over, but um, more recently I've been trying to incorporate into my game a little more stick and try to, you know what I'm saying, make bigger plays happen. I feel like you run them over, you know what I'm saying, you get your momentum and play kind of dead, but if you make a move, you're going for a 50-yard run.

Coach Moss 2:04

Definitely.

OL that blocks great for him

Coach Moss 2:05

So you're a smaller guy, so I think a benefit to that is that sometimes the defense may not be able to see what hole you're running in. Is there an offensive lineman that you that you could particularly name that that throws some pretty good blocks for you?

Austee'n 2:20

Uh yes, sir, definitely. Um, I got my center Cale, Keth man, 6'5, man. Dude's huge, so definitely I like running behind him. So, you know what I'm saying? Ain't nobody gonna be able to see me behind him, I'm just pop up and I'm gonna be gone.

Coach Moss 2:32

Yeah, I hear

Orange Park Run Scheme

Coach Moss 2:33

that. So, are y'all do y'all run more like zone type running schemes, or y'all more like gaps team power, that type of stuff?

Austee'n 2:40

Yes, sir. I think we incorporate a lot of both. We run a lot of Inside zone and a lot of power at the same time.

Favorite type of run

Coach Moss 2:45

What's your what's your favorite type of run?

Austee'n 2:47

I definitely like a power, power aint gone lie. Seeing that um that pulling guard, it just I don't know. It does something to me.

Coach Moss 2:55

Yeah, get down hill, get to that next level. Yes, sir. So just so you you got to the second level, do DBs are DB's able to catch you, or once once you get to that second level, are you gone?

Austee'n 3:10

Nah, no, sir. I don't believe I know DB could tackle to me by they self it, so I believe it's gonna always take a a whole rally to tackle me. I don't think I go down by the first person.

Pass Blocking

Coach Moss 3:19

Yes, sir. So uh also when I was watching your film, I saw that you was you you was pretty good at at picking up blitzes as far as passing pass blocking. Like what what allows you to be that physical as far as pass blocking? Because I'm I'm pretty sure like when a linebacker is blitzing, he thinks, oh, this small guy, he's not gonna be able to handle me. I'm gonna just run through him.

Austee'n 3:40

Yes, sir, definitely. Um, I think just the main coaching point when I be in practice is meet him in the gap. Um meet them there. Um don't let them, you know what I'm saying, get too far in. They're gonna f Mr. Gonna carry me. I'm already small, so I gotta meet them there. If I don't, yeah, I'm gonna fly. So that'd be my main thing just at that first.

Coach Moss 3:56

Yes,

Spring game recap

Coach Moss 3:57

sir. So um can you just talk about your spring game and how you did and what you're kind of looking forward to um improving on as far as in the offseason going into your um to the fall season?

Austee'n 4:11

Uh yes, sir. Um, I believe my stats was 11 carries for about 93 yards and a one Reception for 17. Um, I think it was a decent performance. Um, could have been a lot better. Um, I believe our offense, we shot ourselves a lot in a foot. We had a lot of penalties that game. We had about 15 penalties in the game, total defense and offense. We had a lot of drives, long drives that shouldn't have been that long, and we had a lot of um we had a lot of um drives where we should have gone way further. We should have gone and got in the end zone, but um it just really showed us that we have to be more focused, we have to be more um disciplined. Um, I believe that um Yeah. Yeah, I think we just gotta be more disciplined focused. I believe after that, like we got the athletics, we can make plays, uh, we can get starts. We just gotta be focused enough to put it to the right mark.

Summer Progress

Coach Moss 5:04

Yes, sir. So as far as like summer conditioning and summer workouts, what do you think needs to happen for y'all to kind of reach some of the team goals that y'all want to achieve this season?

Austee'n 5:15

Yes, sir. We're definitely a smaller team. Like we always have been, so we just gotta be conditioned, we gotta be able to play what needs to be played, even before we went to our time. Um just step up and just fill roles that coach needs us to fill. I think that's the main thing, just conditioning and strength training just to get stronger. We aint the biggest, we aint the fastest, but you know what I'm saying? We still gonna make plays.

Coach Moss 5:34

Can you

Team he is looking forward to playing

Coach Moss 5:35

can you um talk about one one team on your schedule that you're looking forward to playing this year and why?

Austee'n 5:42

Um, one team, I could always say I always enjoy the Oak Leaf games. Oak Leaf games, that's like a game that even since my freshman year, it's always brown. Um, energy and just like the atmosphere that you don't see every game, even though some, you know what I'm saying, most years won't it won't come out the way we want to, but just I don't know that vibe, like going into the game is just like, dang, Oakleaf, you know what I'm saying? It's always Oak Leaf. So I think Oakleaf has been the one that I'm looking forward to the most. I want to make a change. My senior year, I think I have what it takes, you know what I'm saying? We're gonna make that difference this year. We're gonna make that difference.

Coach Moss 6:16

Yes,

HS Rival

Coach Moss 6:17

sir. So is that your rival or is it is it just all the Clay County schools, y'all kind of rivalries?

Austee'n 6:23

Um, I think Clay County is like for our rivalry, I would say Middleburg. Middleburg, we go back and forth, back and forth every year most of the time. So I say, yeah, definitely probably Middleburg.

Coach Moss 6:33

Yeah, and that's pretty, because they're pretty physical teams so yall kind of go back and forth.

Austee'n 6:37

Yes, sir. They had Gino Addison and that's a dog, I can't even lie. Oh, yeah.

Coach Moss 6:42

So

Multi-Sport Athlete

Coach Moss 6:43

are you are you do you play any other sports or you just play football?

Austee'n 6:47

Uh yes, sir. I also do weightlifting. Um, and this year I just recently started running track again.

Coach Moss 6:53

How did weightlifting go for you this year?

Austee'n 6:56

Uh yes, sir. I think I had a pretty productive weightlifting season up until we got to like regionals and stuff. Oh no, I think once I got the regionals, it was just the atmosphere that I wasn't used to. And when I got under the bar, I kind of just I don't know, I pissed down my leg and go, I'm gonna keep it, keep it 100. But I think it's been pretty productive. Um next season I plan on trying to hit like 335 on the bench. Um cleaning dirt. I want to hit maybe like 225, just move my weights, you know what I'm saying? Get up.

Coach Moss 7:26

So was that your was that your first time doing weightlifting as far as this the sport?

Austee'n 7:31

Yes, sir. This is my first time weightlifting competitively, this year.

Coach Moss 7:34

Okay. Um are you are you going to any camps this year?

Austee'n 7:39

Um, yes, sir. I'm gonna be on the lookout for some camps, yes, sir.

Camp Mentality

Coach Moss 7:44

Okay. So as far as like your mind, what what is your mindset as far as like going into to to a camp? Like what are you trying to prove to the coaches so they can take an opportunity on you even though that that you're small, show them that you can still play at play college football?

Austee'n 8:00

Yes, sir. I don't want to go into the camp spot, I just put my best foot forward and just show that I could play despite my size. That size, you know what I'm saying? It's not gonna, you know what I'm saying, prove me as a player and I could really do play.

Motivation despite Adversity

Coach Moss 8:11

Yes, sir. So what's one thing that you said that you would say has that kind of drives you um to keep getting better every day? Like even like right now it's hot, it's summertime, like you could be out there just enjoying your summer, going on trips with your family, but instead you're you're willing to try and s make sacrifices to put the work in so you can achieve your dreams and your goals.

Austee'n 8:34

Uh yes, sir, definitely. Um I believe just looking at relatives and just people who haven't done it, you know what I'm saying? They push me to keep going and they always believe in me, so why would I give up on them when they never give up on me? Type of thing.

Proving Doubters wrong

Coach Moss 8:50

Yes, sir. So what do you what do you think that as far as the your your success for this season and the team's success, what do you think has to happen for y'all to kinda um kind of wake the city up and say and show them that Orange Park, yeah, we play football over here too. Y'all don't have to underlook us or overlook us.

Austee'n 9:12

Yes, sir, it's definitely gonna be a process, but like I said before, I think it's just gonna take a lot of discipline and it's gonna be grind. Like we just gotta work for it. Um I think we have what it takes. We have the we have the layout. Our coaches, you know what I'm saying, they give us what we need. Um, but yeah, we just gotta put our best foot forward too at the end of the day. They can't give everything to us. We gotta work for it too.

Toughest LB He faced

Coach Moss 9:31

Okay, now we're gonna kind of shift on like your season from last year a little more. So who would you say what was the toughest linebacker that you had to that you faced?

Austee'n 9:40

Toughest linebacker that I had to face. I probably say Riverside. That wasn't a very productive game for the offense. Um I give all props to my uh my dog Derek Brown, though, for the um very hard hitter. Um he's uh he's gonna he's one of those guys, he's gonna go find a ball and make a play. Um, but yeah, I definitely say Riverside. Riverside, that was uh that was a tough game for the offense. We didn't really have very much production, and that was very much a defensive game.

Coach Moss 10:08

Okay.

SR Season stats

Coach Moss 10:09

So as far as like your personal season goes, like what what kind of stats do you want to achieve this year?

Austee'n 10:19

Um, yes, sir. Of course, um me and my coach, we always have conversations like back when he was in Memphis, um he had running backs that went for 1500 back to back years, and he was like, he aint had that since he came down here to Jacksonville. He was like, he really thinks that um this season it could be my turn. So really I'm just trying to live up to my coach expectations, 1500.

Coach Moss 10:39

So and what and what are you doing now to kind of help you be able to achieve that goal as far as doing weights and then as far as like on your own time?

Austee'n 10:51

Yes, but like I said before, um, we had started back doing these 5 a.m. workouts. So I'll just work out. I'm up there at the Field house for six hours a day, and we're just putting in work as a team and individual, I think, that anything, you know what I'm saying, whether it's just going outside, getting on the ladder real quick, taking a jog, you know what I'm saying, anything like that can always be productive.

Coach Moss 11:09

Yeah, especially like that's gonna help you out in college because you know in the springtime they be having 5, 6 a.m. workouts. So about time that when you get to college, you're gonna already be used to that.

Austee'n 11:20

Okay.

Coach Moss 11:21

So

Orange Park Offense

Coach Moss 11:22

um what type of like offense do y'all run? Are y'all are do y'all are y'all RPO? Are y'all run-based, or do y'all like to do a lot of play action? Like, what type of offense do y'all run?

Austee'n 11:33

Uh I think our offense is very versatile. Um, we incorporate a lot of play action. We do RPO, yeah, we do all of that. Um I think that we could get a little bit deeper into like the trick plays and stuff like that. I think that'd be a lot. That'll be helpful thing that we're not the biggest team. Um, but yeah, I think we have we incorporate a lot of everything.

Coach Moss 11:52

Yeah,

Catching out of backfield or slot?

Coach Moss 11:53

also like I saw on your film, like you you had a lot of nice catches out of the backfield. So do you like playing, you you like catching the ball like as far as lineup at slot, or or would you prefer like as far as just catching the ball out of the backfield being a mismatch against linebackers?

Austee'n 12:09

Uh yes, sir. Last season I think I had a uh opportunity to play a lot a little bit out of the slot more than what I do now. Um, I could say I enjoy it. Um I believe I'm able to get open and make plays too at the same time and either a position, but I always feel more comfortable in the backfield as running back.

Swing pass or Screen pass?

Coach Moss 12:24

Yeah. So as far as just talking about the pass game as far as playing at running back, are you do you prefer to like catch the ball as far as on the screen pass, or do you more so like um catching the ball like running the Texas route or running the swing out the backfield?

Austee'n 12:43

Um, I've had a few opportunities to catch swing routes and screen passes, but I think I always gotta go towards my swing routes. I feel like I can get open in space and I can just go make a play.

Coach Moss 12:53

So

Stiff Arm

Coach Moss 12:54

what should do you have a go-to move when you're in space to make a make a defender miss?

Austee'n 12:59

Uh aint gone lie, I love that stiff arm. I do love the stiff arm. Keep on my arm short, but I feel like I love that stiff arm.

Coach Moss 13:06

And that that probably catch the defender off guard, because that's probably the last thing they expecting you to do is try to stiff arm.

Austee'n 13:11

Definitely. I feel like a lot of people try to ankle bite me and go a little, but honestly, you can't get lower than me. I'm already five-seven.

Coach Moss 13:18

So speaking of that stiff arm, what game from this year, or can you say that probably was the best stiff arm or that you had? And can you walk me through that play and how you felt?

Austee'n 13:28

Uh I say probably flemming game. Um it was, I believe, second quarter, and it was a drive. My quarterback used that ran out of option, he threw me the swing pass, um, made one miss. Um, I believe it was 23. He came in to make a tackle. I just stiff onto the ground. Um, and I just went and score. So yeah.

Coach Moss 13:48

How was like, did the crap did the did did did your sideline go crazy?

Austee'n 13:52

Most definitely, most definitely. It was parents in the stands on our opposing team, and it was sad, it was mad, throwing fits, all that. It just made me feel good.

Coach Moss 14:00

Did you do you did a celebration in, or you just handed the ball to the ref?

Austee'n 14:05

I ain't gonna lie, I just wen't and started tweaking.

Coach Moss 14:10

Okay,

Last Message

Coach Moss 14:11

um, so is it anything as far as a last message you want to give as far as to either um college coaches or just talk about the the team, Orange Park?

Austee'n 14:23

Uh yes, sir. Um I just say you just don't doubt me. Um, I think um I have something to wait until I ain't gonna lie, like this season is gonna be something crazy, it's gonna be a movie.

Rapid Fire

Coach Moss 14:33

Yes, sir. I can't wait to see it. So my last segment is called Rapid Fire. I'm just gonna give you some questions and then you kinda just fire my your answers off to me to me. So power or speed, what would you say your game is?

Austee'n 14:46

I say power, I think I'm explosive, I can make a play.

Coach Moss 14:50

I think you already answered this, but I'm gonna ask it again. Stiff arm or juke? What what do you prefer to do? So what's your what's one word for linebackers who always tackle too high? Say it again. What's one word you have for linebackers that try to tackle too high? Uh what's what what's what's one word you have for running backs who dance too much?

Austee'n 15:16

Uh happy feet aint gone lie.

Coach Moss 15:21

Um, so that's all I got for you. I want to thank you again just for for coming on.

Austee'n 15:27

Yes, sir. Of course, it was a pleasure.

Coach Moss 15:29

Yes, sir. So, um, I look forward to trying to get you on probably towards the end of the season so we can talk about how your season went. Yes, sir.

DOWNLOAD, RATE, & REVIEW

Coach Moss 15:39

Well, folks, that's a wrap. Shout out to my guest Austee'n for coming through and keeping it real. You've been listening to Behind the Whistle 904. Please remember to download, rate, and review, and turn on that notification bell so you don't miss an episode. See you next time.