Prospect Spotlight: Austin Altepeter – Moorhead (2022)

A bad injury changed the course of Moorhead junior [player_tooltip player_id="49823" first="Austin" last="Altepeter"] football career. Although injuries are never a good thing, in this case, it opened new doors for the junior. He might have been buried on the Spuds depth chart at his original position, but coming off the injury, the coaching staff decided to move their talented underclassmen. That move has worked out not only for the team but also for Altepeter’s future in football. "Sophomore year was my first year playing linebacker," Altepeter said. "The years before my sophomore year, I played running back. I tore my ACL my freshman year, and they moved me to linebacker. We had a good running back come into our program, so I was the third-string running back." Linebacker was new, but not brand new, for Altepeter. Still, he knew he had to make up for lost time. "I played a little bit of outside linebacker in junior high, but nothing too advanced. My speed, strength, and vision transferred well to linebacker. I took good angles, watched a lot of YouTube videos about that. My linebackers’ coach helped me out a lot. A lot of it was watching film of previous guys in our program." He is now a two-year starter at linebacker and feels his biggest asset is between his ears. "I study film hard. On the field, I make fast decisions and have good instincts." His instincts helped the team to a perfect season. "We had high hopes going into the season," Altepeter explained. "We went 7-0 and were mythical state champions." "We communicated well," the two-year starter continued. "On offense, we threw the ball well with [player_tooltip player_id="18044" first="Trey" last="Feeney"] and the Walthall twins ([player_tooltip player_id="18075" first="Blake" last="Walthall"] and [player_tooltip player_id="18076" first="Brady" last="Walthall"]). On defense, we were a fast team. We flew to the ball and studied hard and played our tails off." Despite starting every game and being injury-free, Altepeter didn’t get on the field – or I should say stay – on the field as long as he might have liked. "I had a good season. It was a weird season because we only played seven games, and in four of those games, we were kicking butt, so the starters were taken out in the second half. I got a couple of interceptions and made a few plays." When he was on the field, his versatility helped the defense to adjust to offenses. "I mainly played strong-side outside linebacker. I played some nickel and some inside linebacker. It would depend on the teams we were playing and the offenses they were running." This winter, the 6’3" 221-pound junior has been focused both on his body and mind. "I can still watch more film and learning as much as I can for my senior season. I have been lifting with the team this winter; we do bench, clean and squat. I do a lot of stability stuff – like plyometrics. After I tore my ACL, I got into that. I have been doing sprinting workouts since December." Altepeter plans to run track this spring, focusing on the 100, 200, and occasionally competing in the long jump. College programs like what they have seen from the two-year starter. "Recruiting has been good. I enjoy talking to the coaches and building relationships with them. It has been an exciting process. It has been going on for a while now. After my sophomore year, coaches started contacting me. Iowa State was the first to talk to me. I am being recruited a lot by schools that see me as a mix of an inside and outside linebacker. I am happy to play anywhere, though." "I have offers from Eastern Michigan, North Dakota State, South Dakota, North Dakota," Altepeter continued. "I am also talking to Minnesota, Kansas State, and Iowa." His ability to play multiple positions has impressed recruiters. "They like how versatile I am. The coaches like my lifting and speed numbers – especially after I tell them my height and weight." They might have liked him at running back too, but college programs certainly like Altepeter at linebacker. His change of position seems to have worked out just fine – for everyone involved.