Calvin Austin III Gets a Ringing Endorsement From Russell Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers third-year wide receiver Calvin Austin III turned heads during the offseason program. This could be the season where Austin finally breaks through.
“He’s been outstanding. That’s a guy that’s gone from here to here in the last eight weeks,” Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said at minicamp. “It’s been really fun to watch. He’s a worker, he’s intentful, he’s urgent. He wants to be coached. You can see it.
“His game has [improved]. I’m really, really excited for his season if he keeps practicing the way he’s been practicing.”
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has also been impressed with Austin. He even sees shades of Tyler Lockett in Austin. Talk about high praise.
In their seven seasons in Seattle, Lockett caught 433 passes from Wilson for 5,878 yards and 45 touchdowns. Lockett was named first-team All-Pro in 2015 and second-team All-Pro in 2016 and 2017. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2015.
“He was just saying how I kind of reminded him of [Tyler Lockett] in some ways,” Austin said during a recent appearance on 92.9 ESPN in Memphis. “He was like, ‘You’re extremely fast.’ He was like, ‘Man, I didn’t know you were that fast.'”
Austin has had a tumultuous first two seasons. He was out all of 2022 with a Lisfranc injury and in 2023 he recorded just 17 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown, which was a 72-yarder against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.
If Austin can resemble Lockett-like production that would certainly be beneficial to the Steelers’ offense, as there are a lot of question marks with the receiving corps. On paper, it’s a bottom-tier unit. Someone needs to step up, and Austin could be the one.
During an appearance on the Chopping It Up With Swish podcast in March, Austin expressed that he wants to be a dominating receiver and not be known as just a speedster.
“In a broad sense, my goal is just to be a playmaker,” Austin said while getting his haircut at the barbershop. “Real deal, show what I can do every time and anytime the ball is in my hands. … I want to real deal put that time, that work in to where when I’m going to camp, I’m gonna dominate, you feel me? Because I did everything, I put in all the time, resources, effort, and I’m real deal prepared.”
Steelers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko thinks Austin is set up for a breakout year. He believes Austin will shine in Arthur Smith’s offense.
“Cal, and we talked about it, he is one of the fastest human beings I’ve seen since I’ve been in the NFL,” Fehoko said in an interview with ESPN 92.9 FM in Memphis in May. “I mean, he is a great dude. Cal’s reserved, as you know. But man, I am so excited to see him in this new offense and what they’re able to do, and just unleash him. I mean, you talk about Tyreek Hill type of speed, Cal’s got that. He can take the top off a defense easily. Just look at the Raiders game and what were able to do with him last year.”
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