Earlier in his football career at Seymour, Austin Alcorn played offense.
But since he has become a varsity player, he has lined up on the defensive side of the ball.
“I love hitting people,” he said. “Now that we’ve went to one side of the ball this year, I love defense. I can’t get enough of it.”
Alcorn has been credited with 20 tackles and six assists this season.
The senior started playing football in the second grade in Lebanon, Ohio, before moving to Seymour in seventh grade.
This fall, Alcorn has started throughout the season either at defensive tackle, defensive end or nose tackle, depending on what formation the Owls face.
“It depends on if we’re going to run a three-man or four-man front,” Alcorn said. “If I’m defensive end, I’ll line up over tackle, and if I’m defensive tackle, then I’ll go over the guard.”
He plays on the right inside of the line more than the left side.
“Normally, our outside linebackers will key the quarterback, and the defensive line will key the fullback or halfback,” Alcorn said. “I’ll try to get to the quarterback if he’s passing. I’ll try to get to him as quick as I can.
“If it’s a running play, I’ll try to stay in my lane, in my gap. I have two-gap responsibility, so that means I’m head up on the guard, and I’ll have A gap and B gap, inside and outside.”
Alcorn said you have to work hard in practice.
“When we have a good practice, we normally have a pretty good game,” he said. “Practice is really everything. If we have a high football IQ, then we’ll be able to see plays on the field a lot easier, especially when we practice them. It’s just a lot easier in the game.”
Alcorn partially credits the team’s dedication to the weight room with its successes this season.
“If we didn’t lift over the summer, nobody would ever get stronger,” Alcorn said. “Other teams we face hit the weight room. My favorite lift is the bench.”
One of Alcorn’s favorite memories is beating Brownstown Central in the Jackson Bowl in 2015.
“It got us rolling, and we got into the sectional finals,” he said. “That was a blast last year. Hopefully, this year, we go even further.”
This spring in track and field, Alcorn will compete in the 100- and 200-meter dashes while also throwing the discus.
“I like the discus. It feels good to throw it,” Alcorn said. “I got my technique down last year. I wanted to get 130, 140 last year, but I didn’t get that.”
Over the years, Alcorn has enjoyed being a student at SHS.
“We have extremely good teachers,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot. I’ll remember all the friends I’ve made, for sure. Every sport is about winning, but the friends you make and the relationships are the most important. That is probably what I’m going to remember forever.”
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Name: Austin Alcorn
School: Seymour High School
Parents: Mark Alcorn, Monica Hudgins
Siblings: Colton, Raelynn
Sports: Football, four years; track and field, two years
Athletic honors: In football, 2015 scout team player of the year
Organizations: Spanish Club, 4-H
Plans after high school: Attend college and study mechanical engineering
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite TV show: “Dexter”
Favorite musician: Future
Favorite movie: “The A Team”
Favorite team: Ohio State football
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