Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Jordan Austin was a redshirt junior offensive guard and tackle who served as a key backup on Southern California’s offensive line while also playing a regular role on the Trojans’ special teams’ units.
 
He earned 2017 Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention honors while pursuing a master’s degree in studies in law. That compliments his bachelor’s degree in international relations that the Claremont, Calif., native earned in only three years.
 
Austin appeared in 24 games in his career with the Trojans. He saw action in all 13 contests during the 2017 season and played most of the Pac12 Championship Game against Stanford at right guard as an early sub and helped the Trojans clinch their first conference title since 2008.
 
Austin won Southern California’s Community Service Award at the 2017 team banquet as one of the Trojans’ team leaders in this capacity. Austin also enthusiastically led hundreds of local kids on campus tours as part of the “Day in Troy” annual event, giving area youth a first-hand glimpse of university life and opportunities. He also led the Student-Athlete charge during the “Spring Cleaning for Good” donation drive to benefit Goodwill of Southern California. His leadership helped raise over 24,000 pounds of goods for the inaugural drive.
 
Austin was a regular at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. While he never asked for a title change, many knew him as Santa Claus. Austin was a catalyst behind the Trojans’ Santa hospital visit, leading his teammates and coaches to Children’s Hospital to pass out toys to patients dressed as Santa, beard and all.
 
Austin also was a regular speaker at local elementary schools throughout his collegiate career.