(Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
The Steelers announced on Monday that they've signed wide receiver Calvin Austin III to his four-year rookie contract. Austin was selected in the fourth round out of Memphis. Kenny Pickett is now the only rookie from the Steelers' 2022 draft class that hasn't signed yet.
Austin is only 5-foot-9, 162 pounds, but he's explosive. He ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine — third-fastest among all receivers — and had 137 catches for 2,202 yards and 19 touchdowns the past two seasons at Memphis. With the selection of Austin in April, he joined fellow Memphis product Anthony Miller in the Steelers' wide receiver room.
“It seems like over the last few years, the offensive skill position at Memphis, they’ve had a lot of dynamic playmakers. And he’s just the latest,” Mike Tomlin said during his post-draft press conference with Kevin Colbert.
Austin finished his career ranked second in school history with 22 receiving touchdowns, fourth in receiving yards with 2,541 and fifth in receptions with 156. He also returned punts, including 29 for 323 yards, an 11.1-yard average, and two touchdowns.
"Oh yeah, you see the speed on tape," Steelers wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson said. "With the ball in his hands and without the ball in his hands, he comes off the line of scrimmage fast.
"He's probably one of the fastest guys in the room, but he's a smaller guy. All the rest of the guys are pretty big except for Diontae (Johnson), but he brings the speed element, and he brings toughness. Not saying that the guys weren't tough last year, but he brings some toughness along with his competitiveness, and I believe he's going to make the room fun. He's going to bring some juice and stuff to the room."