Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Joey Augustin finished his college football career at the University of Charleston where he set new standards at wide receiver. Now the former Christiansburg High School player is looking to National Football League.
Christiansburg has its first football player headed to the National Football League. Joey Augustin, who starred as a wide receiver for the University of Charleston, signed as an un-drafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers following the completion of this weekend’s draft.
“I’m truly blessed and highly favored for this opportunity. I’ve come a long way. I’ve been through many obstacles and kept faith even when they didn’t, but I want to thank the 49er organization for giving me this opportunity,” he said Sunday.
At Charleston, Augustin set several school records and was named to the Mountain East (MEC) all-conference honorable mention team this past season. The 6-4, 220pound wide receiver finished his senior year with 77 receptions for 795 yards.
He also rushed 21 times for 156 yards and a score. As a junior, he caught 48 passes for 900 yards with 10 touchdowns and is now Charleston’s single-season leader in receiving yards and touchdowns, as well as their career leader in receiving touchdowns. He finishes his career with 179 catches for 2,410 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Augustin was a teammate of Virginia Tech quarterback Brenden Motley at CHS after moving to the New River Valley from Florida, but it wasn’t until he went to college that he started to blossom. He grew three inches, put on a lot of muscle and started to carve his own niche.
During pre-NFL draft interviews, he said his size, range, vertical leap and his aggression when the ball is in the air sets him aside from other receivers. He also compared his game to current NFL receiver, A.J. Green.
The 49ers drafted one other receiver in Trent Taylor of Louisiana Tech and signed free agent Oregon’s Victor Bolden and Baylor’s K.D. Barron. The team also signed Pierre Garcon during the off-season from the Washington Redskins where he played for first-year 49er coach, Kyle Shanahan.
Virginia Tech’s Chuck Clark, Bucky Hodges, Sam Rogers and Isaiah Ford were all drafted in the late rounds of the NFL draft on Saturday.
Others signed as free agents included: Ken Ekanem with the Denver Broncos, and Hokies defensive tackle Nigel Williams to the Buffalo Bills. Tech offensive lineman Jonathan McLaughlin signed with the Arizona Cardinals, and former Hokie back Trey Edmunds was invited to the Kansas City Chiefs’ camp.
