The Pittsburgh Steelers know a thing or two about drafting wide receivers and helping them develop into absolute stars! The Steelers selected Calvin Austin III in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The rookie wideout spoke to the media after practice at OTA's on Tuesday.
With the No. 138 overall pick in the 2022 @NFLDraft, the @steelers select Calvin Austin III!
— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2022
📺: 2022 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/4U4NuMqLmg
On Steelers' star WR Diontae Johnson, Austin said:
"It’s been great, You can tell he’s been a vet. He’s a guy who’s done it before, so seeing the way he works, how he came in and prepared, it’s something I can definitely look up to.”"I’ve definitely watched his tape,” Austin III said. “I watch a whole lot of football. He’s a guy who’s quicker and who gets in and out his breaks. He’s definitely guy I’ve watched before. So to continue to watch him in detail in practice with how he gets in and out of his breaks, it’s definitely something I can take and learn.”
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) participate in Organized Team Activities(OTAs), Tuesday May 31, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
On similarities between Johnson and himself:
"I would say we definitely have similarities in our game as far as our quickness and shiftiness, I kind of got my own type of game. Just from watching him, there’s definitely stuff I can learn from. One thing I work on is getting out my breaks. That’s something he does very well. It’s just about watching the older guys and stealing stuff from each of them to learn and put it in my game.”
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) participates in Organized Team Activities(OTAs), Tuesday May 31, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
On adjusting to being a professional athlete and an NFL wide receiver, Austin said:
"I’m definitely getting there."“Every day there’s something to be learned. Each day I’m getting more and more comfortable. Even with the play call, now I can hear it, go out, line up and I can read the defense instead of seeing where I line up. It’s really about taking each day and focusing on getting better at hearing it and knowing my position.”
“I’ve learned a lot,” Austin continued. “Guys who’ve been here have helped with different routes, what to do when defenders [give different looks]. There’s just so many coverages you don’t see in college that you see at this level that the other guys have seen many times. It’s just about being a sponge. Soak up everything you hear from the older guys.”
Go 🆙 and get it@CalvinAustinIII pic.twitter.com/6E4p2Na71D
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 15, 2022
On learning from veteran quarterbacks, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky,
"It’s been easy," Austin said about Trubisky and Rudolph. "Those are obviously guys who’ve done it on this level. They understand that we’re rookies and they’re working with us on different looks. It’s always a conversation because they know we’re not going to get it right-off. So it’s about continuing to communicate, talk and get on the same page.”
Austin on learning the offense and working with WR Coach Frisman Jackson:
"I’ve been learning all of them," Austin referring to the wide receiver positions in the offense. "That’s one thing that coach Fris does a great job with. You’re not just going to come in and learn one position. You’ve got to know the whole concept. By learning that, I’ll be able to play multiple positions and that’ll help the offense come easier. Because I’ll know everything and it’s going to come all together.”
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