Rookie Scouting Profile: WR Calvin Austin III

Calvin Austin III (WR) Memphis

Height	Weight	40-Time	DOB	NFL Draft	Dynasty ADP	NFL Comp
5-8	170	4.32	03/24/1999	Day 2	late 3-4th	Isaiah McKenzie

College Production

Attended Harding Academy in Memphis and stayed home and walked on the Tigers’ football and track teams. Played sparingly during redshirt freshman season (2018) before putting up a 17/315/3 line in nine games as a sophomore and earning All-American Second Team honors in track. Exploded onto the scene in 2020, catching 63 passes for 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns and being named to the All-AAC First Team. Also led Memphis in receiving in his final season, with 74 grabs for 1,149 yards and 8 TDs and another All-AAC First Team appearance.

Strengths

• Blazed a 4.32 40-yard dash, the third-fastest time of the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.

• Elite measurable metrics, including 133.8 Burst Score (95th-percentile), 10.72 Agility Score (96th-percentile), and boasts a 10.17 catch radius. Broad jump of 11’3″ was 98th-percentile and 39″ vert was 87th.

• Explosive speed on release and out of cuts. Versatility to be a game-breaking punt returner

• One of the fastest post-Combine risers after on-field drills.

• Excellent open-field runner who can use acceleration to take modest gains to the house.

• Strong football IQ. Was not afraid to go over the middle and take on bigger opponents.

• Was named as the toughest wideout he had faced in college by consensus 2022 top-10 pick CB Sauce Garnder.

Weaknesses

• Anemic size will always be a major concern.

• Will struggle to break tackles and create yards after contact.

• Can be bullied by bigger defensive backs. Projects to be a negative contested-catch option.

• Needs to improve on selling routes.

• Only averaged 2.83 yards per route run.

Fantasy Outlook

After that Combine performance, Austin is skyrocketing up rookie draft boards ala Rondale Moore last season. With his electric upside, that hype is understandable. It would not be a surprise to see rookie-only fantasy managers be tempted to look at Austin in the late part of Round 2, especially if he’s drafted to a team that has a clear path to a slot role.

Post-Draft Recap

Austin was drafted in the fourth round by Pittsburgh, with the 138th overall pick. While concerns about his size will hold, Austin excelled at getting open and has dangerous speed and athleticism. The Steelers have a long history of successfully developing wideouts. Pittsburgh also has a long history of not paying extravagant contracts to those wide receivers, so it’s possible that Diontae Johnson‘s days in black and yellow are numbered. This would potentially clear a path to slot reps for Austin, which seems like a better fit for his diminutive frame. I love the talent but there are next to zero records of players that small making a big NFL impact. Consider Austin a dynasty hold that is generally available in the fourth round of rookie-only drafts.