When
Austin Aune of
Argyle (Texas) was playing high school football, Joe Biden was in the White House – as Barack Obama's vice president. That was 2012, Biden is back in Washington, D.C. as president and Aune is back on the gridiron for the University of North Texas at age 29. He's believed to be the oldest Division I starting quarterback in the modern era.
Once a three-star prospect at Argyle, he committed to TCU on the condition he would also be able to play baseball for the Horned Frogs. But before he took the field for Gary Patterson, Aune was drafted by the New York Yankees and spent six years chasing the MLB dream.
In 2018, he gave up baseball and returned to football at the University of Arkansas before transferring to North Texas. After appearing in a handful of games over the past few seasons for the Mean Green, Aune tossed three touchdown passes as the starter as North Texas beat Florida Atlantic 45-28. He was 14 of 20 for 180 yards and three scores.
Not bad for the "junior" who celebrated his 29th birthday on Sept. 6.
On the gridiron at Argyle, he threw for 3,411 yards and 33 touchdowns his senior year, adding 538 rushing yards and nine more scores as the Eagles went 14-2, losing 21-14 to Wimberly in the 3A Division II state title game.
In six seasons in the Yankees farm system, Aune, a shortstop and outfield prospect, hit .226 with 322 hits and 20 home runs. He was the district MVP as a senior at Argyle, hitting .446 with eight home runs, 41 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
Former Argyle quarterback Austin Aune is the oldest Division I starting quarterback at age 29. He chased his baseball dream for six years before returning to football at North Texas.
Photo: Bruce Crockett
