The Steelers Select Calvin Austin In the 4th Round

The Pittsburgh Steelers just made their first pick of the third day of the NFL Draft. It's wide receiver Calvin Austin III from Memphis. He was projected to be a round 3 or 4 pick.

From NFL.com

Austin is a Memphis native who always wanted to play for the Tigers. He joined the football team as a preferred walk-on (just like NFL wideout Anthony Miller) and the track squad as a sprinter. He earned 2019 second-team All-American track honors in the 4x100-meter relay and several All-American Athletic Conference honors in various events. As a redshirt freshman with the football team in 2018, Austin played in 11 games as a reserve (2-24-12.0 receiving; 83-yard TD in his only carry). He played in 13 games off the bench in 2019 (17-315-18.5, three TDs receiving; 4-3-0.8, one TD rushing), finally getting his scholarship after a team win against Houston in November. Austin was a first-team All-AAC selection in 2020 after ranking sixth in the FBS with 11 receiving touchdowns and eighth with 1,053 receiving yards on 63 receptions for 16.7 yards per catch. He also scored on one punt return that season (20-188-9.4). He led the Tigers in receiving again in 2021 (74-1,149-15.5, eight TDs in 12 games, including 11 starts) to receive first-team all-conference notice while also scoring on his only rushing attempt (69 yards) and on a controversial 94-yard punt return (5-135-27.0 on punt returns for the year). Austin opted out of the Hawaii Bowl but the game was eventually cancelled as the Hawaii football program had COVID-19 issues. -- by Chad Reuter

Productive playmaker with below-average size but above-average heart. Austin is below the acceptable size standards many teams have at wide receiver, but he is fearless, versatile and fast. He has proven he can handle the catch-and-run duties necessary in Memphis' quick game. He has the rapid-fire foot quickness and loose hips to take on a more complex route tree as an NFL slot target. His lack of size shows up in contested catch battles so he will need to fine-tune the route-running to improve his catch windows. Austin's ability to work all three levels of the field and handle punt-return duties increases his odds of becoming a Day 3 pick.

He was on Field Yates notables still left after last night.

MORE STORIES ON CALVIN AUSTIN III

Steelers New Speedster Calvin Austin – “I pride myself on my knowledge of the game”

Steelers New WR Calvin Austin – “When somebody says something about my size, I just tell them to turn the film on”