With the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams selected West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Tavon Austin. Austin is the No. 21 player in the draft rankings from SB Nation's Dan Kadar and the third-ranked wide receiver.
NFL Draft results 2013: Tavon Austin selected by Rams with pick No. 8
Austin will bring much-needed help to the Rams’ receiving corps.
Austin, 22, didn’t explode until his junior season when he caught 101 passes for 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns. He then topped that his senior season by catching 114 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns. His speed and versatility has made him one of the top few receivers in the 2013 draft class.
With the departure of Danny Amendola, St. Louis desperately needed to add another receiving threat for quarterback Sam Bradford. In Austin, the Rams have arguably the draft's most explosive wideout.
In a prospect profile on SB Nation, the following positives were listed for Austin:
Playmaker: Austin gets to full speed in a just a few steps, giving him the ability to create a big play any time he touches the ball. He also possesses excellent vision and elite agility that he uses to make players miss before bursting down the field for a big gain.
Patience: Austin is a very patient runner, always looking beyond for the second block. His route-running is crisp, though he didn’t run many traditional routes in the WVU offense. For his size, he’s not afraid to run over the middle and between the tackles.
Toughness for his size: There is no denying Austin is small, but with so much experience as a running back as well as a receiver he knows how to take a hit and stay on his feet.
Combine results
Height: 5’8
Weight: 174 lbs.
Hand size: 9.13 inches
40-yard dash: 4.34 seconds
Vertical jump: 32 inches
Austin’s blazing 40 time at the combine helped rocket him into the top tier of wide receivers in this year’s draft class. He has the ability to not only line up in the slot, but he can play on the outside as well and has the potential to be a No. 1 receiver. He also has the ability to make a big impact as a punt and kick returner.
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