Austin was born March 24, 1999, grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended Harding Academy.[1] His family consists of his father, Calvin Austin II, and mother, Mimi Austin, and his four sisters: Cami Bea, Claudia-Ruthie, Naomi Pearl, and Bella Rose.
College career
Austin redshirted his true freshman season at Memphis after joining the team as a walk-on.[2][3] During his redshirt sophomore season, he was awarded a scholarship and finished the year with 17 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns.[4] As a redshirt junior, Austin caught 61 passes for 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named first-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC).[5] He repeated as a first-team All-AAC selection after finishing his redshirt senior season with 74 receptions for 1149 yards and eight touchdowns.[6] After the conclusion of his college career, Austin was invited to play in the 2022 Senior Bowl.[7]
Austin also ran track at Memphis and was named a second-team All-American in 2019.[8]
Austin was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round, 138th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft.[11] He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2022.[12] After Austin aggravated his foot injury, the Steelers let his return window pass and he was placed on season–ending injured reserve on October 26, 2022.[13]
The Steelers promoted Austin to the 53-man roster for the 2023 season.[14] In week 3 of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders, Austin caught his first NFL touchdown on a 72-yard deep pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett in a 23–18 Steelers victory.[15] In week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Austin scored his first rushing touchdown on a 7-yard run as the Steelers won 34–11.[16] He finished his rookie season with 17 receptions for 180 yards and one receiving touchdown to go with one rushing touchdown in 17 games and one start.[17] In his postseason debut, Austin scored a receiving touchdown in the 31–17 loss to the Bills in the Wild Card Round.[18]
On September 22, 2024, Austin recorded a career-high 95 receiving yards against the Los Angeles Chargers.[19]
On October 28, 2024, Austin recorded his first career punt return touchdown, a 73-yard return, as well as his first career multi-touchdown game against the New York Giants, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[20][21]