Austin J. Downes (August 20, 1905 – May 25, 1979) was a college football player.

[2][3] Downes was to play for Knute Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, but transferred to the University of Georgia under Rockne's protege coach Harry Mehre.

[2][5] He led the team in 1930 to wins over Eastern powers NYU and Yale.

After finally doing so, Downes returned the opening kickoff in the Yale Bowl 70+ yards for a touchdown, catching it off a bounce on the grass.

[7][8][9] The 1931 team of which he was captain[3][10][11] suffered just two losses, one to national champion USC, and the other to the team USC beat in the Rose Bowl, Southern champion Tulane.