Diamond In The Rough: Austin Altepeter

Austin Altepeter is an Outside Linebacker in the Class of 2022 for Moorhead High school in Moorhead, Minnesota. Altepeter has a college ready build, while also only being a junior in high school, standing in at 6’3” and 220 lbs. This build allows him to shed through blocks seemingly effortlessly while also being able to play in pass coverage just as well as most DBs! With his great size and strength, he also has surprising speed, he is able to keep up with nearly any receiver and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds. While his physical attributes may be pretty impressive, his defensive IQ is just as or even more impressive as he reads and picks apart offenses easily. Austin Altepeter has another year of high school football ahead of him and we are excited to see what he will do in the future.

Check out Austin’s highlights here.

When did you start playing football and why? I started playing in 4th grade for a youth team, when I was little, I saw clay Matthews dressed up as Thor and wanted to be like him.

Favorite moment of your career so far? My first play I made on varsity sophomore year I forced a fumble and recovered it.

What current or past player do you think you play like the most? I’m very versatile so a player like Isaiah Simmons because I’m fast versatile and long.

Do you play any sports outside of football, and what do you think you adds to your game? Track, it adds acceleration and I do a lot of lifting as well.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? I put on my left sock before my right and listen to some music.

Going into your senior season, what are you looking forward to? having a good time with my teammates, I have some offers right now and by the season starts I should be committed so I’m just excited to have fun with the team.

Do you have a quote or anything that pushes you daily? “How bad do you want it”

What do you think a college would get out of you as a player? They would get a college ready player, my height weight and IQ are good, once I get to college, I’m going to be game ready.

What motivates you to get up and train every day? I don’t want to be average, so I always work harder than others.

What do you think makes you a good teammate? Trying to help my teammates out by uplifting them and helping them out through things. Also, when we are in school and I see my teammates, I try to lift them up.

Who has pushed you most in your football journey? My linebacker coach, he says to give it your all and you will see results and that’s what I have done.

What do you think sets you apart from other athletes? I’m a kind person, I try to be the best I can be around others.

What do you think the best part of your game is? Seeing holes and finishing a play by making the tackle.

What sets you apart from other OLB? I can get off blocks really well, I can also play in the box with the lineman.

Would you consider yourself a run stuffer or a pass coverage guy? Hybrid

What’s your favorite GAP to shoot and why? A Gap, like to be sneaky and surprise the offense.

Would you consider yourself a hard hitter or more conservative? When I have a free shot ill hit hard, but if I need to make the tackle, I will play more conservative. I would consider myself an athletic conservative tackler.

Favorite block shed move? It’s when I grab their outside arm and push it in, then I use my other arm to get under and past them.

What is your thought process at the start of the play? I see their personnel and think about what we have seen in their film. I watch a lot of film so I can somewhat guess what they are running a lot of the time.

Favorite part of playing OLB? I get to be in the play a lot, and even if it doesn’t come to my side then their play will be stopped.