D9Sports.com/EYT Media is doing a series of player profiles on returning high-school athletes this summer. The year in school listed by the athlete is the year the athlete is entering this fall.
(Submitted photo. Photo by Cameron Kirkland)
AUSTIN NEWCOMB – JUNIOR – CLARION-LIMESTONE
Son of: Todd & Melissa Smith
Sports Played: Football and Track
Family Members Playing/Played Sports: His sister, Emma Smith, plays volleyball for C-L, and his brothers Christian and Taylor Smith played football, basketball and baseball for both Clarion and C-L. His brother Jordan plays junior high football for C-L, and his brother Seith runs track.
2017-18 Highlights: He played in six football games for C-L in 2017 and had 18 catches for 357 yards and two touchdowns while running for 327 yards and five touchdowns. In track & field, he was a second-team All-KSAC choice in the 110-meter hurdles and the triple jump and finished third in District 9 in the 110 hurdles and eighth in the 300-meter hurdles.
Post-High School Plans: He plans on attending college and either running track or playing football.
Q&A With Austin Newcomb
D9Sports: What is your favorite sport to participate in and why?
AN: Football is my favorite sport to participate in because I love the adrenaline when I’m playing the sport.
D9Sports: What is your favorite memory, moment, game from playing high school sports?
AN: My favorite memory from playing football was when I had a good game against Punxsutawney last year. We had a big comeback in the second half to win the game.
D9Sports: Why do you play high school sports?
AN: I play high school sports so I can be a strong and athletic person. I also played them because it gives me something to keep my mind on so I’m not out doing dumb stuff with my friends.
D9Sports: Who has had the most influence on your athletic career and why?
AN: Todd Smith has had the most influence on my athletic career in many ways. Before, when I wasn’t living with Todd, my life was pretty bad and I was going through a lot of hard things. When I moved in with Todd and his family, they immediately made me a better person and a better athlete. If it wasn’t for him, my athletic career would not be what it is today.
D9Sports: Do you remember the first sport you played and did you like it right away or did it grow on you?
AN: The first sport I played was football for the Sabula Raiders. I loved the sport right away and my first ever football game I had 327 rushing yards and 23 tackles. I knew it was my sport from that day on.
D9Sports: Do you have a favorite number for a uniform? If so, what is the story behind that number?
AN: My favorite number for a uniform is 2 because it just looks smooth and clean.
D9Sports: What would someone who doesn’t know you be surprised to find out about you?
AN: If someone didn’t know me they would be surprised about how skinny I am and how fast I am.
D9Sports: If you could eat dinner with anyone famous (living or dead) who would it be and why?
AN: If I could eat dinner with anyone in this world it would probably be Walter Payton. Walter Payton is an absolute beast and will truck anything in his way on the football field. He had an impact on many lives and he gets me pumped up for football.
D9Sports: Iphone or Android or Neither and why?
AN: I prefer iPhone because it’s fast and not glitchy and laggy like the Androids.
D9Sports: What is your go-to Social Media and why?
AN: My go-to social media is YouTube because I love to watch football highlights of Ray Lewis, Barry Sanders, and the greatest of all Walter Payton.
D9Sports: What do you like most about high school and why?
AN: The thing I like most about high school is lunch. I love to eat but I don’t gain anything.
D9Sports: What do you like least about high school and why?
AN: The thing I like least about high school is learning. I don’t like to learn but have to in order to play sports.
D9Sports: What question do you wish I would have asked you? And what is the answer to it?
AN: I wish you would have asked me “If you ain’t first then what are you?” Well, like Ricky Bobby said, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”
