Joyner Is ‘Just Happy To Be Back’
August 31, 2016 | Football, General
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
All of a sudden, and for the first time, football was temporarily taken away from Austin Joyner.
After working for years to earn a scholarship, he was forced to watch from the sidelines after suffering a season-ending knee injury less than two full games into his freshman season.
"That was the hardest part, having to watch," the redshirt freshman defensive back said. "I'm used to playing, being with the team when they're out there. It was hard to sit on the sideline and see everyone else doing stuff when I couldn't."
But, as difficult as it was to sit and watch, Joyner didn't sulk. He flipped the frustration of a knee injury into a temporary setback
"I tried to think positive," Joyner said. "I knew it was only temporary. I focused on the comeback instead of what happened. I tried not think, 'Oh, I'm injured.' I thought about how I was going to come back and be better than I was before."
So here he is, healthy, focused and back on the field.
"It's unexplainable," he said. "This is what I grew up playing and I've never taken this much time off. To be back on the field, it doesn't feel odd. It just feels comfortable. I'm just happy to be back."
Returning to the field created a feeling of being back where he's "supposed to be."
Because of the way he attacked his recovery, Joyner believes he has become a more complete player.
"I've just focused on a few things, like my mental game," Joyner. "I'm really paying attention more, making sure I'm in better condition than I was last season. Since I had this year off, I'm not looking to be where I was at last year. I want to be better than I was last year."
He has already played his way onto the depth chart as one of the backup corners behind standout Sidney Jones. He is also a threat on special teams, listed currently as the backup to John Ross as a kick returner.
But, regardless of his place within his position group, Joyner is just happy to be healthy. He is looking forward to a season spent competing instead of watching And to do that as a member of one of the nation's deepest collection of defensive backs, well, that's "something special."
"There's so much talent," he said. "It's unreal. And these guys are good people, too. I love being out there with them."
