Oregon 4-star CB signee Daylen Austin discusses flip from LSU, contact with Deion Sanders

Long Beach (Calif.) Long Beach Poly four-star cornerback Daylen Austin was set to be the first player from his high school to play at LSU. However, he decided to go a different direction last week by flipping and then signing with Oregon.

Austin grew close with Tigers cornerbacks coach cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples. Yet he believes that playing college football in Eugene will be best for his “future.”

“I took numerous visits to the University of Oregon this past season and I already had a relationship with (head) coach Dan Lanning and (cornerbacks coach) Demetrice Martin from their prior schools and they had offered me,” Austin told reporters at hotel check-in for the Under Armour All-America Bowl. “Just going around, seeing the defensive scheme with (defensive coordinator) Tosh Lupoi, he was a new face and (I was) able to build a relationship with him. Seeing the defensive scheme that I’ll be playing under, I think I fit that better than the other defensive scheme that I was committed to.”

Austin shared that name, image and likeness was not a crucial factor in his decision. Regarding Oregon and NIL, Austin acknowledged that the Ducks “really didn’t talk about it much.” Yet he mentioned that other schools were discussing “big numbers.”

Check out more updates from hotel check-in for the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game.

“My plan is to make the NFL money,” said Austin, the No. 102 overall prospect in the 2023 On300. “NIL money is good for college athletes, being a college athlete, being able to make money. But I’d say my mindset is focused on NFL money. It didn’t really play a big part, more of a relationship with coach Lanning.”

“Like I said, if it was for the money, I would’ve went to the school with the biggest number,” he added. “It wasn’t NIL at all.”

Austin spoke with Deion Sanders prior to signing

At the end of his recruitment, Michigan State made a push for his pledge as well. Colorado expressed interest, as well.

Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reached out to Austin prior to his signing. The two spoke over the phone on the morning of Austin’s flip to Oregon. The four-star expressed high praise of Sanders and his knowledge of the game.

“It’s coach Prime,” Austin said. “A lot of people know him as one of the greatest, if not the greatest DB to play in the NFL. I think a lot of kids want to learn from him and I definitely took that into consideration. I made sure I chopped it up with him a little bit.”