Notre Dame football: Kevin Austin Jr. will be a big part of Jaguars rebuild
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team saw the best Kevin Austin Jr. had to offer in 2021, and he should be a key part of the rebuild in Jacksonville.
Last season, the Notre Dame football team got elite play from Kevin Austin Jr., something they had been waiting for during his career in South Bend. Injuries and inconsistent play plagued Austin Jr. early on, but in his final season with the Irish, he became not only their WR1 but a legitimate draft prospect.
Then came the NFL Combine, where Austin Jr. showed a rare blend of size and speed, and some experts had him going as high as Day 2 in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, as the days came and went from Thursday to Saturday, Austin Jr. did not hear his name called and would end up having to start his career as an undrafted free agent.
For Austin, this could end up being a blessing in disguise.
Notre Dame football star WR gets a fresh start in Jacksonville
After the draft finished up, Austin Jr. signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that could be on the rise in the AFC South. Trevor Lawrence is entering his second season in the NFL and is looking to shake off a rookie campaign that hindered his growth under Urban Meyer.
Jacksonville revamped the wideout room in a big way this offseason, adding guys like Zay Jones and Christian Kirk to the mix, giving Lawrence the weapons he needs to take the next step forward in Year 2. In Austin, Jacksonville is getting a complete wide receiver, and someone I believe could end up making the 53-man roster when all is said and done.
Undrafted free agents have a tough road to the NFL, but Austin is getting his chance, and Jacksonville is a great spot for him. They are looking to rebuild the organization, and a player like Austin would be a long-term solution for them at the wide receiver position.