'18 FL WR Kevin Austin (Notre Dame Signee)

[NDRock]

It’s fair to say if you want Styles, Colzie and Davis to start head of him, but again, we need the bodies next year. You keep him around, hope he improves, and if the young guys pass him on the depth chart, Austin can still be the fourth wide receiver.

You don’t give toys away when you have nothing else in the garage.

Austin also has a sixth year of eligibility if he wants to use it. He can transfer somewhere or go to NFL after 2022

Agree. This is football, people get hurt every year. Depth is a must. Austin coming back hungry to show off for the NFL would be huge.

 

[Irish#1]

He needs another year of seasoning.

 

[irishandy]

If Austin came back he would clearly be ND's #1.

 

[ulukinatme]

If Austin came back he would clearly be ND's #1.

He's not even the #2 guy in receptions though. He's leading in TDs by one, but Mayer and Kyren both have him beat on catches, and Mayer has him beat on yards as a TE. Even with Austin as the #1 WR Avery Davis was on his heels in catches before he got hurt. I think if Styles is on the field at the same time as him next year there's a very real possibility that Lorenzo makes his case as the #1 WR.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Austin needs to come back for us to have a semi chance going into Ohio St next year. We lack playmakers as is on the perimeter and losing what little we have is a recipe for disaster.

 

[NDdomer2]

He's not even the #2 guy in receptions though. He's leading in TDs by one, but Mayer and Kyren both have him beat on catches, and Mayer has him beat on yards as a TE. Even with Austin as the #1 WR Avery Davis was on his heels in catches before he got hurt. I think if Styles is on the field at the same time as him next year there's a very real possibility that Lorenzo makes his case as the #1 WR.

wouldnt we be better for it if he came back and was beat out for #1?

 

[Riddickulous]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/michaelbryanMB/status/1463270443981414401[/TWEET]

 

[irishff1014]

wouldnt we be better for it if he came back and was beat out for #1?

We need him on the field for the Irish in 2022.

 

[CHIDomer9]

Have there been any reports on his health recently? Check him out at 2:13. Seems really short and choppy. Maybe favoring hammy or quad?

 

[Irishize]

Kevin Austin has received a return to school NFL grade per @EHansenNDI.


Will be interesting to see if he takes the advice to heart as he would be a critical returning piece for next season.
10:18 AM · Dec 30, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

He 100% needs to come back. Hopefully he sees the benefit and need.

 

[ThePiombino]

He 100% needs to come back. Hopefully he sees the benefit and need.

Would love to see the splits stats, but I feel like skill position players are just less likely to come back when on the fence. As such, I assume KA is gone next year.

 

[stpeteirish]

Hansen also said he sees Austin as "leaning' to declaring for the draft. Grade notwithstanding. My take: he thinks he's better than they do and wants to prove it.

 

[NDdomer2]

Hansen also said he sees Austin as "leaning' to declaring for the draft. Grade notwithstanding. My take: he thinks he's better than they do and wants to prove it.

He'll likely have to prove it in camp as an UDFA then.

 

[General Colon Bowel]

He'll likely have to prove it in camp as an UDFA then.

I hope for his sake he comes back. It's alot easier to go from unfinished product to legit pro talent as the WR1 on a top college team than it is to make it as a late round pick or UDFA. Not too hard to look at the success rate of late round and UDFA WRs in the NFL and realize he's got a much better shot at NFL success if he comes back and plays his way into the 3rd round or higher. That kind of draft capital is what gives young players the opportunity and patience from front offices to really find success in the league.

 

[irishff1014]

Austin is one that seems like he continues to make the wrong decisions.

 

[317Irish]

Austin is one that seems like he continues to make the wrong decisions.

I see so much potential in him and feel like it would pay dividends for all parties if he came back next year and took his game to the next level like I believe he can.

 

[IrishBoognish]

I see so much potential in him and feel like it would pay dividends for all parties if he came back next year and took his game to the next level like I believe he can.

I have a fair amount of faith he will make the right decision.

It shouldn't be a hard pitch because it's not a selfish thing on ND's part. Youre honestly telling a guy his future would be objectively brighter if he honed his skills for 1 more.

It would require terrible, even worse than Kizer level decision making on his part.

 

[NDisme]

After seeing Troy Niklas declare in 2013, nothing surprises me anymore. Granted he was a 2nd round pick somehow, Kevin won’t come close to that

 

[NDPhilly]

After seeing Troy Niklas declare in 2013, nothing surprises me anymore. Granted he was a 2nd round pick somehow, Kevin won’t come close to that

Still think his ceiling was significantly higher at SDE or OT.

 

[SBirishlawyer]

Wasn’t it heavily rumored that Niklas was going to be caught up in that academic scandal so bounced instead of being suspended a year like KR

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Getting Davaris Daniels / EQ vibes

 

[Rack Em]

Wasn’t it heavily rumored that Niklas was going to be caught up in that academic scandal so bounced instead of being suspended a year like KR

Niklas hated Kelly

 

[Irishize]

I suspect all ND fans agree he should return but he has his ND degree & is probably tired of the CFB grind & the South Bend weather/culture. My gut says he’s gone. That & $1.29 will buy you a song on iTunes

 

[T-Boone]

We are going to need some walk-on's to step up

 

[Chicago Domer]

Unfortunately I agree with Irishize. He did a great job making it through school, but it was a struggle. I can’t see him going through another year, especially since he has his degree. I hope I’m wrong.

 

[texbender]

The difference is that Austin will not get drafted right now because he has about a hundred red flags. I’m exaggerating but he gets bullied off routes in press coverage, isn’t precise in his route running, has inconsistent hands with a number of bad drops, etc.

If he simply comes back and has even a mediocre year where he refines his game then he’s likely a mid-round pick. But he has 1st round upside and going UDFA would be a financial mistake. Different than Niklas who got good draft feedback and did not think he could appreciably improve his stock.

Seems like if he decided to stay for another year, transferring to a more pass happy offense might be the way to go.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Seems like if he decided to stay for another year, transferring to a more pass happy offense might be the way to go.

He won't find a better team with a greater need at WR. Might be able to transfer to an air raid G5 offense, but he's guaranteed to start as our #1 WR, so that's a lot to risk for the potential of more targets.

 

[Dale]

I suspect all ND fans agree he should return but he has his ND degree & is probably tired of the CFB grind & the South Bend weather/culture. My gut says he’s gone. That & $1.29 will buy you a song on iTunes

From what Prister has said, I believe this is the correct take. Could go NFL, could transfer elsewhere, but I’m not expecting him back at the moment

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I think what (Should be) the biggest wildcard here is the new Admin rules were players don't have to enlist in a true master's program. If they can just get him the minimum credit hours and let him focus on football **which has been confirmed ND does now for players that chose that route** then I see no reason other than geography that would play a role in transferring.

He's also said great things about TB, so surely that's not a factor.