Calvin Austin

Calvin Austin III
refer to caption
Austin with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023
No. 19 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:Wide receiver / Punt returner
Personal information
Born: (1999-03-24) March 24, 1999 (age 25)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:162 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High school:Harding Academy
(Memphis, Tennessee)
College:Memphis (2017–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / round: 4 / pick: 138
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2024
Receptions:49
Receiving yards:697
Receiving touchdowns:5
Punt return yards:508
Punt return touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Calvin Austin III (born March 24, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver and punt returner for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis.

Early life

Austin was born March 24, 1999, grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended Harding Academy.[1] His family consists of his father, Calvin Austin II, and mother, Mimi Austin, and his four sisters: Cami Bea, Claudia-Ruthie, Naomi Pearl, and Bella Rose.

College career

Austin redshirted his true freshman season at Memphis after joining the team as a walk-on.[2][3] During his redshirt sophomore season, he was awarded a scholarship and finished the year with 17 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns.[4] As a redshirt junior, Austin caught 61 passes for 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named first-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC).[5] He repeated as a first-team All-AAC selection after finishing his redshirt senior season with 74 receptions for 1149 yards and eight touchdowns.[6] After the conclusion of his college career, Austin was invited to play in the 2022 Senior Bowl.[7]

Austin also ran track at Memphis and was named a second-team All-American in 2019.[8]

College statistics

Season Team GP Receiving Rushing Punt Return
Rec Yds TD Att Yds TD Ret Yds TD
2017 Memphis 0 DNP
2018 Memphis 4 2 24 0 1 83 1 0 0 0
2019 Memphis 9 17 315 3 4 3 1 4 0 0
2020 Memphis 11 63 1,053 11 2 14 0 20 188 1
2021 Memphis 12 74 1,149 8 1 69 1 5 135 1
Career 36 156 2,541 22 8 169 3 29 323 2

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 7+3⁄4 in
(1.72 m) 		170 lb
(77 kg) 		30 in
(0.76 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.32 s 1.44 s 2.49 s 4.07 s 6.65 s 39.0 in
(0.99 m)		 11 ft 3 in
(3.43 m)		 11 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[9][10]

Austin was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round, 138th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft.[11] He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2022.[12] After Austin aggravated his foot injury, the Steelers let his return window pass and he was placed on season–ending injured reserve on October 26, 2022.[13]

The Steelers promoted Austin to the 53-man roster for the 2023 season.[14] In week 3 of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders, Austin caught his first NFL touchdown on a 72-yard deep pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett in a 23–18 Steelers victory.[15] In week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Austin scored his first rushing touchdown on a 7-yard run as the Steelers won 34–11.[16] He finished his rookie season with 17 receptions for 180 yards and one receiving touchdown to go with one rushing touchdown in 17 games and one start.[17] In his postseason debut, Austin scored a receiving touchdown in the 31–17 loss to the Bills in the Wild Card Round.[18]

On September 22, 2024, Austin recorded a career-high 95 receiving yards against the Los Angeles Chargers.[19]

On October 28, 2024, Austin recorded his first career punt return touchdown, a 73-yard return, as well as his first career multi-touchdown game against the New York Giants, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[20] [21]

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Punt Returns Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2022 PIT DNP
2023 PIT 17 1 17 180 10.6 72T 1 11 57 5.2 12 1 29 249 8.6 34 0 2 0
2024 PIT 14 6 28 452 16.1 55T 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 23 259 11.3 73T 1 0 0
Career 31 7 45 632 14.0 72T 2 11 57 5.2 12 1 52 508 9.8 73T 1 2 0

References

  1. ^ Carlson, Cassie (November 23, 2020). "Calvin Austin III lives out childhood dream playing football for the Memphis Tigers". ActionNews5.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Giannotto, Mark (November 6, 2020). "Calvin Austin III might be Memphis football's next Anthony Miller". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Sikkema, Trevor (December 20, 2021). "Memphis Tigers wide receiver Calvin Austin grinded from walk-on to first-team All-AAC at his hometown school". Pro Football Focus. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "Memphis' Calvin Austin III embraces new number, higher expectations". The Commercial Appeal. August 19, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Greer, Jarvis (July 23, 2021). "Another watch list for Tiger receiver Calvin Austin". ActionNews5.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Barnes, Evan (December 13, 2021). "Memphis receiver Calvin Austin III opts out of Hawaii Bowl to prepare for 2022 NFL Draft". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (February 2, 2022). "Browns have shown interest in small but speedy Memphis wideout Calvin Austin III at the Senior Bowl". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "How Memphis Tigers wide receiver Calvin Austin juggles football, track and field". The Commercial Appeal. October 25, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Calvin Austin III Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  10. ^ "Calvin Austin III, Memphis, WR, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Varley, Teresa (April 30, 2022). "Steelers select Calvin Austin III in the fourth round". Steelers.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Varley, Teresa (September 1, 2022). "Roster moves continue for Steelers". Steelers.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  13. ^ Hartman, Jeff (October 27, 2022). "The Steelers decision to let Calvin Austin III go on season-ending IR was based on injury". Behind the Steel Curtain. SB Nation. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  14. ^ Varley, Teresa (August 30, 2023). "Steelers current 2023 roster". Steelers.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  15. ^ Rivers, Christina; Kuzma, Joe (March 23, 2024). "Plays of the Year: Kenny Pickett connects with Calvin Austin for 72-yard equalizing touchdown". Steel City Underground. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  16. ^ "Calvin Austin rushing TD gives Steelers 14-0 lead over Bengals". Yahoo! Sports. December 23, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "Calvin Austin 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  18. ^ "Wild Card - Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Florio, Mike (September 25, 2024). "Calvin Austin sees "no panic" in the Steelers' offense this year". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Steelers 26-18 Giants (Oct 28, 2024) Game Recap". ESPN.
  21. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 30, 2024). "Browns QB Jameis Winston, Falcons QB Kirk Cousins highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.