After two seasons as a West Virginia University invited walk-on, Austin Hensley was looking for a place to play football.
He found that place - and an opportunity to play earlier than he imagined - at West Virginia State University.
Hensley led the Yellow Jackets into the finish of their 37-24 win at Urbana. And he now gives State comfort in knowing that, if starter Matt Kinnick has to head to the sidelines, the Yellow Jackets have another effective arm on the roster.
"It was a great feeling," Hensley said. "I think I played that image over and over in my head for two years. I prepared to be in there. Matt did a great job in there and was having a great game. When my number was called, I was ready."
The former Hurricane standout, a three-time first-team all-Mountain State Athletic Conference pick, was called into action after Kinnick was injured in the second quarter versus Urbana (head coach Jon Anderson did not specify the location of the injury). Kinnick had completed 10 of 13 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown at that point, and then it became Hensley's turn to step into the lineup. He responded by completing 11 of 12 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown.
Hensley said he didn't feel nervous when he jogged to the huddle. He was waiting for that first big hit, the one to remind him he was in a college football game with a target on his back and a slew of hungry defenders bearing down on him. That hit, he said, never came.
"I don't think I ever got touched," Hensley said. "The offensive line did a great job."
Urbana had pulled to within 14-10 at halftime, but with Hensley at quarterback, the Yellow Jackets jumped ahead 28-10 in the third quarter and kept the game out of reach. Of all the physical aspects of Hensley's performance, Anderson really enjoyed the redshirt sophomore's demeanor as he stepped in during a high-pressure situation.
"He's a true competitor at heart," Anderson said. "He waited patiently for the opportunity and made the most of it. He directed the offense and we didn't miss a beat. It's exactly what you want out of your backup quarterback."
Hensley credits the instruction he received in Morgantown for two years for his ability to jump right into the fray. He specifically mentioned Shannon Dawson, now the offensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi, as a great teacher.
"He really broke down a defense for me like I had never seen before," Hensley said. "He really helped me identify types of coverages, when you'd see blitzes coming, things like that. It really helped me out."
Don't go looking for a quarterback controversy in Institute. Kinnick, who was on his way to a standout day versus Urbana, led the Mountain East Conference in passing yards per game last season. Anderson said he'll evaluate Kinnick's injury as the week progresses to see if he's ready to return to the starting lineup for Saturday's 1 p.m. home game versus West Virginia Wesleyan. But Anderson knows that if Kinnick needs some more time to heal, he has Hensley to step in and guide the offense.
"Being able to have two above-average guys is a great luxury for this football team to have," Anderson said.
Hensley is just happy to find a place where he could contribute on the field. He rose to third-string quarterback on the WVU depth chart, but he never saw action in a game. So he took another look at a West Virginia State program that recruited him out of high school, saw the strides they had made offensively and decided to become a Yellow Jacket. It's a choice both he and State are pleased that he made.
"I just wanted to play college ball," he said. "I had seen places, but never got to touch the field, except for the spring game. I finally realized I wanted to go somewhere and play ball a little bit. I saw this program was on the rise."
Contact Derek Redd at 304-348-1712 or derek.redd@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @derekredd.