The Steelers have signed another of their draft picks.
Fourth-round wide receiver Calvin Austin III signed a four-year rookie deal on Monday.
The financial terms of the contract were not released.
Drafted out of Memphis, Austin III caught 156 passes for 2,541 yards, averaging 16.3 yards per catch, with 22 touchdowns. He also returned 29 punts for 323 yards, an average of 11.1 per return, including a 94-yard touchdown over 49 career games.
But the first stat that jumps out to you, is his height, 5-feet 8-inches.
Austin ran a 4.32, 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine following a pair of back-to-back 1,000 seasons at Memphis. New Steelers WR Coach Frisman Jackson says he brings a different dimension to the offense with his perimeter ability and his ability in the slot.
Jackson is not worried about Allen’s height.
“When you are a 5’8” guy, can you go up and attack the football?” Jackson said. “Can you go attack the ball in the air or do you sit down and wait for it. He goes and attacks the ball in the air. Those combat catches, 50/50 balls, he goes and makes those plays. He plays like a guy that’s 6’1”, 6’2” as far as when he jumps and attacks the football.”
Austin spoke during OTAs and talked about his size.
“I’ve always been one of the smallest,” Austin III said Friday at rookie minicamp. “But I’ve always been one of the strongest per-pound people. That size factor, it’s never been anything for me.”