Prospect Bio

Calvin Austin’s football journey began at Harding Academy in Memphis, Tennessee where he caught 74 passes for 1,513 yards during his career. He also rushed for more than 500 yards while scoring 49 career touchdowns as a runner, receiver, returner, and defender. Austin was quite the track athlete as well. He won nine state championships in sprints and relays and was named Best of Preps Track and Field Athlete of the Year twice. Despite all this, Austin was an unranked recruit with zero Division I offers. Austin chose to walk-on at Memphis where he redshirted his freshman season of football but joined the track team. There, he qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 4x400m relay and helped his team set the record in the 4x100m relay at the conference championships meet. That success continued in 2018 when he set a school record while winning silver at the 2019 American Athletic Conference Championships.  He was back on the gridiron, too, though he logged just three offensive touches. 

In 2019, Austin earned an official scholarship after catching 17 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. He added a rushing score as well. The 2020 season is when his career really took off. In 11 games, he led the AAC in receiving yards (1,053) and receiving touchdowns (11) on 63 receptions. He also made an impact on special teams with a punt return touchdown and was named first-team all-conference. Austin’s dominance continued in 2021. He caught 74 passes for 1,149 yards and eight touchdowns. He again added a punt return touchdown and was named first-team All-AAC.

College Stats

Calvin Austin College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference

Positives

+Elite Speed

+Explosive

+Acceleration 

+Route-running 

+Versatile 

+Run-after-catch 

+Creates good separation 

+32.3% College Dominator (60th-percentile, PlayerProfiler.com)

+16.1 YPR

+28.5% Target Share in 2021 (PlayerProfiler)

+6.2 receptions per game in 2021

+2.6 yards per team pass attempt

+30.1% receiving touchdown share in 2021

+29 career punt returns (2 TDs)

Negatives

-21.5 Breakout Age (26th-percentile, PlayerProfiler.com)

-Undersized

-Limited catch radius

-Struggles vs bigger/physical defenders 

-Limited in contested situations

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: TBD

NFL Draft Projection: Third/Fourth Round

Bottom Line:

“Calvin Austin is undersized…blah, blah, blah.” We get it, the dude is tiny and we have to consider that in our evaluations. But, today’s NFL is much more fitting for a guy like Austin than it was 10 years ago. NFL coaches are better at finding ways to use good players based on their skill sets and the game itself has evolved to allow these smaller athletes to thrive. While his size will certainly limit areas of his game and put a cap on his ceiling, it’s no reason to completely ignore the player. What’s more concerning is his late breakout. One of the greatest indicators of success at the next level is age-adjusted production. As a guy who was an unranked recruit, a walk-on at Memphis, and a redshirt freshman who didn’t produce meaningful numbers until his age 21 season, Austin fails mightily in this area.

But there are some things to be excited about—like his olympic-level speed. Austin may just be the fastest player in the whole 2022 draft class. He’s much more than just a speed guy, though. He’s incredible in space with nifty moves, explosion, and acceleration. Austin is a good route-runner who can control his speed and create separation. He has the versatility to play both outside and in the slot. Austin will make an immediate impact as a returner and gadget guy in the NFL with an opportunity to carve out a more significant role on offense.

Post Draft Analysis:

The Steelers selected two wide receivers to gift to new quarterback Kenny Pickett. The second of those two was Calvin Austin. Austin is an undersized speedster who will struggle to find the field as anything more than a strategic deep threat. He enters a strong receiver room manned by Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and George Pickens.

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade