DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

In the world of semi-pro football, where every yard is earned and every hit is personal, few defenders made a louder impact—without ever saying a word—than Joplin Crusaders linebacker TJ Austin.

Whenever the Crusaders take the field, it’s hard to miss him. A quiet storm in a black cowboy hat. No antics. No flash. Just steel-eyed focus and country toughness. This man lets his play do the talking—and in 2025, it spoke volumes.

With nearly 80 tackles, double-digit sacks, and a presence that haunted backfields all year long, TJ Austin earned the CMFL Defensive Player of the Year the old-fashioned way: by taking it.

The Stats Tell One Story…

80 total tackles – anchoring the defense as the CMFL’s most consistent run-stopper

10+ sacks – relentless pressure that forced offensive coordinators to lose sleep

Countless hits – that set the tone early and closed games late

The Intangibles Tell Another

TJ’s value went far beyond numbers. As the emotional and physical leader of a battle-tested Joplin squad, Austin’s toughness rubbed off on everyone. Whether blowing up a pulling guard, chasing down a mobile QB, barking out defensive adjustments or even taking snaps as a power RB on offense, TJ was the heartbeat of the Crusaders’ 9-2 campaign—a season where they faced the CMFL’s most explosive offenses and held their ground every week.

Week after week, TJ Austin dragged the fight to the other team’s doorstep, regardless of size, scheme, or skill level. His impact can’t be measured in just film study or box scores—it was felt in bruises and broken game plans.

Recognition Well Deserved

The CMFL is loaded with defensive talent, but this year belonged to Big TJ. A true tone-setter. A throwback linebacker in a modern game. And now, officially, the best defender in the league.

Congratulations to Linebacker TJ Austin of the Joplin Crusaders – your 2025 CMFL Defensive Player of the Year!