AUBURN, Ala. – Persevering in spite of a collegiate career interrupted by injuries, senior offensive lineman Austin Troxell looks forward to a happy and healthy ending to his playing days at Auburn.
While playing high school football at Madison Academy in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, Troxell was first team ASWA all-state and on the Class 4A all-Region 7 team. Selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game, he was a highly rated recruit with many accolades.
As a high school sophomore, Troxell gladly accepted an an offer to play for Auburn. Despite tearing his right ACL as a junior and again as a senior, injuries were not going to stop Troxell from chasing his college football dream.
"Football was my first love as a sport," he said. "I always loved playing it."
Troxell spent his freshman season rehabbing his right ACL, but by the 2018 campaign, he had worked his way to second on the depth chart at right offensive tackle and played in 12 games, a huge confidence booster after all that work to return to action.
Sadly, that return was short-lived; Troxell reinjured the same right knee in the 2019 A-Day game. His recovery was even more complex; doctors had to remove a tendon out of his left knee and move it into his right knee, which caused him to rehab both knees at the same time. Although he was off the field for the 2019 season, he stayed optimistic.
"It was a tough time, but I made it back, and it's all good now," he said.
Austin's optimism has proven as important as the arduous work he has done through rehab. Troxell was back on the field to play in eight games during the 2020 season and started the final four games at tackle.
"Getting out there finally was big for me," he said. "I've always known I have the ability, but it's nice to prove it and gain that confidence, knowing I can help the team."
Troxell's favorite Auburn tradition is "the eagle flight before the games. Obviously, the team is still in the locker room, but as a recruit, it was always a cool moment." His favorite memory is the 2019 Iron Bowl win. "I just thought that was such a good way to end the regular season and it's always good to beat Alabama," he said.
While many of his teammates enjoy listening to music to prepare for games, Troxell prefers pregame solitude.
"I actually don't listen to any music before the games," he said. "I try to calm down and relax. It's very hard to get into a quiet place while in the locker room with all the loud music, but I just try to block everything out and just relax my mind before I go out to play a game."
Once he runs out the tunnel onto the field, Troxell says, "I just let the energy of the fans come to me. Once I get out there on that field, all my energy and intensity will come out."
Troxell is one of many who consider the Auburn family to be an important component of his college experience.
"This was one of the main reasons why I came here, this family atmosphere that Auburn has, which has been so huge for the football program," he said. "They have been there for us through the ups and the downs in my time here, and it has just been great.
"There has always been growth in Auburn football. That was one of the reasons why I chose to come here. It has always had a rich tradition, I saw it going in an upward trajectory, and I wanted to be a part of one of the best programs in the country."
The past year has been challenging to all collegiate athletes and fans, but Troxell says the Tigers found ways to interact with each other while remaining safe.
"It was definitely different," he said. "We luckily still had our time in the locker room with the guys, so we were still able to hang out. But it was mainly at football, at the complex, but not really at other places around campus outside of football."
Troxell sees that as a positive for the upcoming season.
"There are still opportunities to grow team chemistry and have a good brotherhood on the team, because we will have more opportunities to be together," he said. "I still think we all have good relationships with each other and that's what it's all about."
Troxell is also positive about the new Auburn coaching staff formed under Bryan Harsin. "I really like him," Troxell said. "It is a little different from what I am used to since I've been here, but I think he is bringing in new energy and a new philosophy. I think this is going to be good for us and I'm looking forward to building a relationship with him."
Troxell's most important relationship, however, is with his new bride Sydney, an Auburn and AUM nursing graduate. The high school sweethearts were married in May, with several of Troxell's teammates – Trent Kelley, Nick Brahms and Prince Sammons – part of the wedding party.
A December 2020 Auburn graduate with a bachelor's degree in supply chain management, he is earning a second degree in business administration and is on track to graduate with that degree in December.
"I see myself eventually working in the supply chain industry and doing some coaching also, maybe at the high school level," he said. "I got interested in supply chain because it involves all the processes of getting a product made and then getting it out to the public. There's always going to be a need for that in manufacturing, transporting and distributing products to the public. The pandemic has shown us another side of why it's important."
Important to Troxell in his senior season will be his contributions to the Tigers on the field.
"My playing time in 2020 really helped my overall confidence in myself," he said. "I know I can help the team succeed, and my teammates know they can rely on me. I know what we can do as an O-line group and now we've just got to show it."
Nelson Garris is a student worker in Auburn Athletics media relations