Tag: Calvin Austin III

Receiver standouts from the first day of scouting combine drills

These receivers did the most to improve their draft stock during Thursday’s scouting combine drills.

If you like speedy receivers, the 2022 scouting combine is for you. Before this combine, the record for receivers running official sub-4.4 40-yard dashes was seven. In this class, a full 14 ran unofficial sub-4.4 40-yard dashes, and while that number will drop when the times become official, the speed on the track at Lucas Oil Stadium was obvious.

Of course, there’s more to the position than running in a straight line. NFL evaluators will tell you that the tape tells you at least 80% of the story, and bowl games and postseason activities (combine, pro days) rack up the remainder. But from a pure traits perspective, here are the receivers who helped themselves the most at the 2022 scouting combine.

WATCH: Memphis WR Calvin Austin III runs blazing 40-yard dash at NFL combine

Whatever he lacks in size, Calvin Austin III makes up for with blazing speed, which he showed off at the NFL Scouting Combine

Wide receivers running the 40-yard dash is one of the main events every year at the NFL Scouting Combine, and this year’s group started with a bang.

Memphis’ Calvin Austin III was the first receiver up, and he set the tone with a time that nobody else in his group would beat, 4.32 seconds.

Austin may not be the biggest pass-catcher in this year’s deep class, but he obviously makes up for it with blazing speed, something he put on full display Thursday night in Indianapolis.

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4 mid-round slot WRs Titans should watch at NFL combine

We know the big names, but who are some lesser-known WRs the Titans should be watching at the 2022 NFL Combine?

It’s safe to say that the Tennessee Titans will have an interest in selecting a wide receiver in the 2022 NFL draft. Last season revealed the ugly truth of how anemic the Titans’ offense can be without A.J. Brown and Julio Jones in the lineup.

While both returned to the lineup in the playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Jones turned 33 last month and is coming off two injury-plagued seasons in a row.

Tennessee has a number of wide receivers set to become free agents; however, none are likely to fill the void at the slot receiver position.

There figures to be plenty of high-end wide receiver talent available at the 26th overall pick in the draft, but should the Titans decide to wait until the third round to grab a much-needed slot receiver, here are four the team could target that they should be watching at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine.

SKOL Search: What can Vikings learn from Mobile?

The 2022 Senior Bowl was jam-packed with talent. Who should the Vikings keep an eye on?

The Senior Bowl is a fantastic event for many reasons, but the biggest reason is how much you can learn from this class. Over 100 players attend the event in Mobile to show off their skills and speak with teams. Throughout the week, players are put through drills to showcase their skills and traits.

The Senior Bowl staff, led by director Jim Nagy, has done a fantastic job not only finding players from high profile programs, but also standouts from the lower levels. These lower level guys usually have dominant tape, but this platform gives teams the ability to see them compete on an even playing field.

Players like Ali Marpet, Kyle Dugger and Carson Wentz have massively benefitted from being invited to Mobile.

When down in Mobile, there are a lot of different things you can take away from the event. Along with learning about the players, it’s also a major outlet for scouts and media to converse and learn more about what other teams think of the class and to hear what rumors are swirling.

After having been in Mobile this past week, here are the five biggest takeaways for the Minnesota Vikings.

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2022 Senior Bowl: 4 potential Chargers CB/WR who stood out from Day 1

Identifying four wide receivers and cornerbacks who stood out on the first day of Senior Bowl practices.

The first day of Senior Bowl practices is in the books and the buzz around certain prospects has already reached a fever pitch.

Here are four players the Chargers could target across the wide receiver and cornerback positions that exceeded expectations on Tuesday.

WR – Christian Watson, NDSU
An unmistakable figure standing at 6’4” as he towered over the rest of the National wide receiver group, Watson was hard to miss as the first day of Senior Bowl practices kicked off. The small school product quickly commanded all the eyes in the stadium as he displayed uncanny quickness off the line, sunk into his cuts with ease, and shot away from defenders. 

In the one-on-one period, Watson excelled in a variety of areas. He distanced himself with smooth routes, made catches away from his frame, and relished in blocking duties when on the field for run plays. Watson also recorded the fifth-highest speed at the practice, clocking in at 20.71 miles per hour. Expect eyes to remain on him throughout the week after the strong showing.

WR – Calvin Austin III, Memphis
A day after his height was confirmed to be two inches shorter than expected, the 5’7” Austin put on a clinic as he put his top-end jets to the test against the American team’s premier cornerback talent. One of the fastest players in the draft, Austin became a lightning bolt off the line and cooked overeager opponents attempting to squash him in press coverage. When given a free release, Austin flashed by his opponent and generated large gaps of separation with his speed. It was a tough day for the receivers competing against the likes of Roger McCreary, Mario Goodrich, and Derion Kendrick all afternoon. However, Austin was the one threat that stood out and consistently threatened vertical.

CB – Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
In his black uniform and red pants, Bryant looked like he was suited up for another game with the Bearcats and he enjoyed a comfortable day holding his own under the lights of Hancock-Whitney stadium. Bryant looked calm, fluid, and dominant against every receiver he lined up across. The traits that made him the Jim Thorpe Award winner traveled with him to Mobile, and he nearly intercepted Nevada quarterback Carson Strong on a deep ball during 7-on-7 drills. Often overlooked in favor of the flashy resume of Ahmad Gardner, Bryant has carved a reputation of his own right as one of the Senior Bowl’s must-watch prospects in the secondary.

CB – Akayleb Evans, Missouri
Evans had made an impact as one of the biggest surprises of the Senior Bowl so far, standing out among a crowded American cornerback room. He was a standout defending the American team receivers in press coverage as he accurately landed strikes as a physical presence at the line of scrimmage. Evans was able to turn and run easily and did not allow much breathing room as he blanketed his assignments downfield. After practice, Evans was presented with the Alabama Power Community Service Award for his time spent giving back to others and the efforts of his foundation, which provides scholarships for high school students from Evan’s hometown.

Chargers Scouting Report: Memphis WR Calvin Austin III

Putting Memphis WR Calvin Austin III under the microscope to see if he is a fit for the Chargers.

Practices for the 2022 Senior Bowl begin on Tuesday and many of the nation’s top prospects will be on display for coaches and scouts to evaluate.

With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.

Today, I am taking a look at Memphis wide receiver Calvin Austin III.

Calvin Austin III, Memphis, #4, Senior, Austin, TX,  5’9”, 162

40-yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Career: 2021 First Team All-AAC selection. Had 156 catches, 2,541 receiving yards, and 22 touchdowns in 36 games. Competed in track and field during his four-year career at Memphis. Former walk-on that chose his hometown school over other offers.

Red Flags: None

Strengths: Firecracker off the line that employs a diverse array of releases to explode past his defender and win during his opening steps. Showcases fast feet and quick, short strides that blast away from press strikes and help him avoid getting crammed toward the beginning of his route. Has premier speed that can stretch the field, blow up secondaries, and make defenses respect the game-changing potential of his vertical talent. His burners will compete for the status as the fastest player in the draft. Calculated route runner that sinks his hips well and accelerates effortlessly through various intervals of his assignment. Tough and dauntless when extending for catches he knows will come with punishment. Slick creator after the catch that melts pursuit angles with his twitch and finds a way to escape plugged lanes in the open field. 

Weaknesses: Contact balance and ability to absorb hits weakened by smaller size and frame. Not a delicate player by any means, but concerns persist over his durability taking shots over the middle. Can be completely smothered and bashed around by bigger defenders if he is unable to separate. Lack of length diminishes his catch radius and will require heightened accuracy from the quarterback on contested targets. While he enjoyed plenty of time outside at Memphis, he will be required to operate from the slot and benefit from manufactured touches at the next level.

Final Word: Shifty and bursting with energy, Austin is an explosive product that has proved size isn’t everything when playing wide receiver. With top-end speed, unpredictable route running, and electric playmaking with the ball in his hands, Austin is a complete receiver that is far from the gadget role a player of his stature would typically be projected as. Austin projects as a dynamic slot man that can galvanize an offense through his cleverness as a separation specialist.

Fit Likelihood: High

Grade: 2nd

Film Highlights

Austin earning a free inside release with a jab step against press coverage before losing the defensive back at the top of his route for the touchdown.

Austin slashing through the Navy defense on a reverse play.

Memphis scores on bizarre 94-yard punt return against Mississippi State

Memphis’ Calvin Austin picked up a punted ball Missississippi State thought it had downed and returned it for a TD

One of the stranger plays of the season to date — or for the entire season — took place on Saturday as Mississippi State played at Memphis.

The Tigers led 21-17 in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs punted.

The ball was kept out of the end zone by one of the Mississippi State special teams players. Another thought he downed it inside the Memphis 10.

However, an alert Calvin Austin III picked up the ball and took off the other way. While one Mississippi State player congratulated another and an official looked like he was calling the play dead.

But …

Before Mississippi State knew it, Austin was in the end zone 94 yards later for a Memphis touchdown.

Austin had already caught a pair of touchdown passes in the second half before his alert decision.

The touchdown Memphis a 28-17 lead en route to a 31-29 victory. It was the Tigers’ 17th home win in a row and it came over an SEC opponent. Memphis has won 22 consecutive nonconference home games, with the last loss coming in 2013

The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs by the same score Alabama topped Florida an hour or so earlier.