Walk-on Austin Webster Makes History As Irish Team Captain
Austin Webster immediately thought the worst when he was called in Brian Kelly’s office this month.
The Notre Dame walk-on receiver said he typically doesn’t see the Irish head coach in a setting like that. But Webster’s concerns were quickly put to rest.
Webster, a rising senior, learned he would be one of six team captains in 2017.
“When I was called today, your first thought it, ‘Did I mess up or do something wrong?’” Webster said after the Echoes awards show Dec. 9. “To get that news is just a dream come true.”
The other six Irish captains are well known: linebacker Greer Martini, offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, linebacker Nyles Morgan, offensive guard Quenton Nelson and safety Drue Tranquill. Quarterback DeShone Kizer was also named a captain, but ultimately declared for the NFL Draft.
Webster, though, is an unknown. He will be the first active walk-on to serve as a team captain at Notre Dame, an honor the 6-foot, 195-pounder cherishes.
“It’s a huge step for us, for the WOPU guys, to have someone to be able to kind of voice their opinions and to be a voice for them,” Webster said of the team’s walk-on fraternity, the Walk On Players Union. “We’re such a huge part of this team. And even though we don’t get the glory every weekend, we take pride in what we do every week during practice. To be able to represent them during the week for the next year is a dream come true for sure. We’re excited.”
The Westchester, Calif., native, said the first person he told was his mother. And when speaking to reporters following Echoes, he spoke about what the honor means.
“Words can’t describe the thoughts that I’m feeling right now,” Webster said. “Been working since day one to just get a shot to start playing and to work with my teammates every day. I do it for them, I do it for the team, I do it for the university. To have the ability to now represent the university as a captain is a dream come true and I’m excited to see what it’s going to be like in the future.”
And for those that aren’t familiar with Webster’s work behind the scenes, Martini explained how the walk-on impacts the team.
“Austin Webster is one of those guys in the locker room that’s always doing the right thing,” Martini said. “Does the right thing in the classroom, does it right in the weight room and on the field. He always gives us the best looks on the scout team. He just wanted to bring in the whole team and Austin Webster is a great guy with character that’s going to be able to lead.”
Webster described himself as the “support guy” for the wide receiver group, taking his cues from veterans Will Fuller, Chris Brown, Corey Robinson and Torii Hunter Jr. in recent seasons.
That experience has given Webster some leadership training.
“One of the largest things that is unseen is not on the field, but it’s on the practice field during the week,” Webster said. “In terms of how I approach the practice week, how I help my guys to get through the week to perfect their craft, that won’t change. That’s going to stay consistent and that’s going to be something I hark on for sure for the next year.”
Webster traveled to two road games in 2016, the Shamrock Series in San Antonio and the finale at Southern Cal. He’s hopeful to be on the roster full-time in 2017.
“It’s all going to depend on how I do in the offseason, I can’t just sit, I have to keep on working,” Webster said. “I’m going to let my work do the talking and the coaches can make decisions. The fact that they made me captain this year is a good sign for things to come.”
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