Despite having a solid showing at the East-West Shrine Game, this weekend's NFL Combine is important for North Carolina's Marvin Austin.
After being suspended for his senior season, Austin is fighting to regain his spot as one of the best defensive linemen in this year's draft.
Considered a preseaon top 10 pick, Austin opened up to the media at the NFL Combine on Saturday about his ability and his suspension.
Austin was quick with a comeback when asked if he'd be in the conversation with Alabama's Marcell Dareus and Auburn's Nick Fairley as the top defensive tackle in the draft.
"I feel If I was able to play, there wouldn't be a conversation," Austin said.
Confident Marvin Austin opens up about suspension, ability
About the suspension, it was a chance for Austin to sit back and think about the opportunity he had. Like
earlier in the week, Austin insists North Carolina would have won a national title with him playing.
Austin was suspended by the NCAA for taking two trips to California and two to Florida. One of the trips to California, Austin said, was for training with former teammates
and
.
“It was a young mistake and I got ahead of myself,” Austin said. “I learned to never take the game for granted. There’s a lot of guys who would kill to be here.
“I went from being one of the top prospects in the nation to not being talked about. It was a tough sit watching other defensive tackles perform when I felt I was the best.”
See More:
