Clemson Football: Tiger Tuesday – Thomas Austin

Tiger Tuesday features a Clemson football athlete from the past that significantly impacted their program. This week Clemson football is highlighted with former player and current offensive line coach Thomas Austin.

Thomas Austin – Offensive Guard, 2005-09

• RTR 200 Ranking: 141
• Third-team All-American by Sporting News in 2009
• Second-Team All-ACC in 2009
• Second-Team All-ACC center in 2008
• 316 career knockdown blocks

Austin played football and wrestled for Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina. As a wrestler, he posted a 66-4 record. He was a 3-star prospect in the 247 Composite. He committed to Clemson over Maryland, Penn State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.

Following a redshirt in 2005, Austin began his climb to the top of the offensive line group. By his redshirt sophomore season in 2007, he was starting the majority of games, sometimes at guard and sometimes at center.

In 2008 Austin was Clemson’s primary center, earning All-ACC honors. Further showing his versatility, Austin moved back to guard for the 2009 season, where he again earned All-ACC honors at guard and was named to The Sporting News’ All-American team. He also served as a team captain in 2009.

Austin went unselected in the 2010 NFL Draft, but was signed as an undrafted free-agent. He played a few games for the Houston Texans and the Carolina Panthers from 2010 to 2013.

Clemson football alumnus Thomas Austin is in his first season as the offensive line coach at his alma mater after serving as an analyst in 2021

Austin started his coaching career at Clemson, working as a graduate assistant for four years under Dabo Swinney. His first staff job was at Georgia State as the offensive line coach, where he was hired by fellow Camden native Shawn Elliott. He coached the Panthers’ offensive line in the 2019 & 2020 seasons.

Austin returned to Clemson as an analyst for the 2021 season. He was named as Robbie Caldwell’s successor as offensive line coach in early 2022. Coach Swinney made it clear that he had a plan in mind when he brought Austin back from Georgia State:

"“[His hire] is something that we knew was going to happen at some point, and it was one of the main reasons I brought him back from Georgia State. He’s been incredibly well-groomed and well-prepared and he’s going to do a fantastic job with that offensive line.”"