On Nov. 17 Tavon Austin victimized Oklahoma's defense under the lights at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, W.V. The damage was more than 344 rushing yards, another 82 receiving yards and a huge boost to his draft stock.
2013 NFL Draft: Tavon Austin vs. Cordarrelle Patterson
Austin and Patterson hurt the defense in similar ways, but which one is the better prospect?
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The pre-draft process has been kind to Austin as well. He made waves at the combine, and his pro day only further excited the scouting community. But make no mistake, Austin made his biggest moves on the field last fall for West Virginia. The smooth routes, slippery run after catch ability and outstanding field vision have caused some to project him as a rare playmaker in the NFL.
In a strong wide receiver class, that playmaking ability could be enough to separate himself and be the first player drafted at his position. The competition includes another player with a similar skill set to Austin's. Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson, who wasted no time catching the college football world's attention, scorching David Amerson in Tennessee's first drive of the season against N.C. State. With one Tyler Bray deep ball, Patterson had gone from a raw junior college transfer to a key piece of the Volunteers' offense. Before long, he was catching the eye of NFL scouts, too, and has been a staple in the first round of mock drafts since the end of the season.
But which player offers the bigger impact? Let’s take a look.
The case for Tavon Austin
Austin’s size is just about the only knock on him as a player. He brings a rare element to an offense with his pure speed and lateral quickness, both in his route running and once the ball is in his hands. While some are concerned he may struggle to stay healthy in the NFL, Austin never missed a practice during his time with the Mountaineers, and durability shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Further helping Austin’s case is his concentration. While Patterson struggled with drops and lapses in concentration, Austin’s hands were consistent as a senior. While Patterson isn’t yet running the full route tree, Austin has the skills and experience to get separation consistently with clean routes.
The case for Cordarrelle Patterson
For everything that is made about Austin’s movement skills and ability to make plays in space, Patterson is every bit as dangerous with the ball in his hands. The only difference? Patterson is 6’2, while Austin measured in at just 5’8 at the NFL Scouting Combine. For everything Patterson can do in space, he has the measurables to attack the defense over the top and win battles in the red zone.
Patterson presents a lot of the same threats to the defense that Austin does, but he has the upside to do some much more. He’s raw, he’s unpolished, but he’s shown a fair amount of development in a short period of time. If he can clean up some of his concentration issues, sure up his hands and learn how to run routes, the sky is the limit for this kid.
Conclusion: Tavon Austin
Size isn't an issue when you can move like Austin can. Defensive players rarely get a good piece of him because of how elusive and quick he is in the open field. For an innovative offense, Austin can get the job done in so many different ways. He will also make an immediate impact in the return game. When a team drafts Austin, they know what they are going to get. Can the same be said about Patterson? Maybe not. He has plenty of traits that will concern teams on draft weekend.
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