Click for Auston Downs Highlights
He plays at a large school, but it’s in a relatively remote area in the state, so not a lot of people have heard about Moses Lake (Wa.) OL Auston Downs, but after getting a look at his senior film so far, his name is one you should remember in the weeks and months to come.
“I currently have just one offer — Montana,” Downs told Northwest Elite Index recently. “They offered me back in the summer.
“I’ve been hearing from a lot of other schools though, so I am hopeful that I will get some more soon.”
The other schools contacting the talented 6’4″, 280-pounder include Eastern Washington, Montana State, Cal Poly and Portland State.
“I play left guard for my team and most of the schools recruiting me like me as a guard,” Downs noted. “Washington State actually seems to like me as a center, but other than that, most schools like me at guard because I am good at getting to the next level and I think I am equally good at run and pass blocking.
“A big thing for me is consistency. No one gets the inside on me and I am good at protecting the inside gap so my quarterback doesn’t have someone coming at him right in his face.”
“I’m also pretty quick off the ball and I keep my feet moving until the whistle.”
Because he’s from an area that doesn’t typically draw a lot of recruiting attention, Downs headed out to camps and a couple of Junior Days last spring and summer.
“I went to the Eastern Washington camp with our team and I also did the Rough Diamonds Showcase as well,” Downs said. “I visited Eastern Washington for their Junior Day and I had a blast there and I also went to Montana State’s Junior Day and the coaches there were also really great to me.”
Downs said he plans to be patient in the process and hopes to take his visits after his senior season is completed.
“I want to go out playing the best I can play as a senior since this is my last year, so I don’t want to be focused on recruiting when I should be devoting all of my time to my team instead,” Downs said. “I’m just letting the (recruiting) process run however it is going to run and I will worry about that after my senior season is completed.”
With his natural size and athleticism, Downs is a player recruitniks should know down the road. While he’s not at the elite level of some of the local line prospects in the state this season, he’s definitely in that next tier or prospects who are the backbone of a roster.
Downs is a natural leader and he gets after guys as a blocker. Don’t be surprised if more offers start to flood in once they get a look at his mid-season senior highlight film (linked above).
Moses Lake, currently 3-3 on the season, will face off against Sunnyside this Friday night.
