Steelers Receiver Coach Zach Azzanni Offers Big Time Praise For Calvin Austin

When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp in Saint Vincent College, there are a lot of eyes on the wide receiver group. With the departure of Diontae Johnson, the Steelers are looking to see who is going to step into the role that he left. The wide receiver room is full of players on rookie deals and one-year contracts, wanting to prove they deserve the wide receiver two position. One name that is hoping that he is the one to be thrusted into the role is Calvin Austin III.

Austin heading into his third year in the NFL and is ready to take on a larger role within the Steelers' offense. With a competitive battle within the wide receiver room and a new offensive coordinator, this can be the year he takes the next step. He has the confidence in his abilities not with just his speed, but his all around play at the position. This is what he had to say after day three of training camp via Amanda Godsey.

"I can obviously do a lot with the ball in my hands, but I'm a true receiver, so it'd be good to be able to run some more routes."

Austin missed his rookie season due to a foot injury that landed him on the Injured Reserve list. His second season for the Steelers, he did not see the production that he had wanted. He finished the year with just 17 receptions for 180 yards and just one touchdown. He did contribute a little in the run game with 11 rushes for 57 yards and adding another touchdown. 

Austin's improvement and work ethic is not going unnoticed with the coaching staff. In June, while talking to the media, Wide Receivers Coach Zach Azzanni could not stop praising Austin and is really impressed with him being so coachable and such a hard worker.

"He's been outstanding. That's a guy that has gone from here to here (holding one hand higher than the other) in the last eight weeks. It's been really fun to watch. He's a worker. He's intentful. He's urgent. He wants to be coached and you can see it."

Austin was drafted in the fourth round by the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Memphis. He was a walk on his freshman year and ended his college career with two First Team All-AAC selections. He ended up posting 156 receptions for 2,541 yards and 22 touchdowns. Sauce Gardner, one of the top rising cornerbacks in the NFL, told Chris Simms on Chris Simms Unbuttoned before he was drafted to the New York Jets, that Austin was a difficult receiver in his sophomore year to cover.

This is Austin's third Steelers training camp and he knows the expectations that comes with being in Latrobe, PA. He is already developing a solid relationship with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Fields is growing a liking to Austin, targeting him quite a bit throughout training camp thus far, especially in the 7 shots drill on Saturday afternoon. Wilson has been singing his praises about Austin since his first pass to him, even comparing him to his former teammate Tyler Lockett.

Will Austin Be The Steelers' Number Two Receiver?

The Steelers are hoping that their solution to their missing wide receiver two is somewhere currently on the roster. Austin is one of the favorites to claim that spot, but he has to out work guys like Van Jefferson and Roman Wilson first. Time will tell, but let us know what you think in the comments below.

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