Florida Atlantic University player injured in crash making comeback

BOCA RATON, Fla. - On Saturday February 13 Austin Jensen's life changed forever

"The first thing, or last thing I guess, that I remember is getting ready for the football banquet. The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital," Jensen says.

The FAU football player, along with two other teammates and a student manager were involved in a car accident on I-95 in Boca Raton. They were headed to the Owls annual football awards banquet.

The other three were hospitalized but released a short time later. Jensen wasn't as lucky.

He was ejected from the car after it violently rolled over at least two times.

He ended up lying motionless on the pavement with a broken pelvis and brain damage.

"The whole life and death thing crossed through my mind, but as soon as I was told I was going to be fine, it went away," Jensen says.

Jensen was released from the hospital two weeks later. That's when he began the long road back to the football field. But it hasn't been easy.

"For a while it really seemed like I was never going to be able to play, mainly because of the brain injuries, and so far that's what keeping me from playing," he says.

However, his injuries are not keeping Jensen from lifting weights and working out with the team.

The safety is not part of the squad this year, but he hopes to be back next year for his final season of eligibility.

"Obviously, God had different plans than me laying on 95," Jensen says.

He credits his survival and quick recovery to being in top physical shape for the gridiron.

Now he's just waiting for the day when his biggest obstacle again becomes cracking the starting lineup.