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2022 NFL Draft: Memphis WR Calvin Austin III Has Explosion In Spades

By Jacob Schyvinck

Memphis Tigers receiver Calvin Austin III breaks into the endzone on a 25-yard catch against Mississippi State Bulldogs at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Jrca5451
Memphis Tigers receiver Calvin Austin III breaks into the endzone on a 25-yard catch against Mississippi State Bulldogs at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Jrca5451 /
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The Memphis Tigers have yet another playmaker, and Calvin Austin III could be an intriguing name in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The Memphis Tigers have a playmaker who can make an impact on Sundays. Memphis has become a great program for pumping out receivers and running backs who thrive at the next level. Antonio Gibson, Tony Pollard, Anthony Miller, and Kenny Gainwell are just a few of the names, and there might be another on the way in Calvin Austin III.

After two seasons with limited targets, Austin broke out in 2020, catching 63 passes for 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games. He’s already on a breakneck pace this year, as he’s caught 48 passes for 837 yards and eight scores in just six games. Austin is also averaging over 17 yards per reception this season and has was the focal point of one of the wildest plays of the year, his punt return against Mississippi State.

So why, with his numbers, is Austin not hyped up with the rest of the 2022 NFL Draft class? Size is the main reason, as Austin is just listed at 5’9″ and 162 pounds. Those numbers aren’t indicative of success at the next level. There are outliers, but not more than a few.

There is still good news. Austin has a bowling ball-like build that helps him survive hits through some contact, but his main contribution will be his explosion and maintained speed. Any schemed touch he gets could turn into a score. He has shown it as a returner, and can stretch the field vertically as well. He’s got the requisite quickness and footwork to win quickly at the line of scrimmage.

What makes him so interesting is the savvy skill set he has when things break down. Austin helps out his quarterback by finding space quickly against zone coverage and during the scramble drill. He works back to the football well too, something that is great to see with receivers. Building that trust with a quarterback is huge.

It will be interesting to see how the NFL views Calvin Austin III and whether or not he finds an All-Star game invite (the production should help), but the Memphis receiver is an exciting player to watch and could end up one of those outliers in the 2022 NFL Draft, even if it’s becoming a special teams ace.

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