8 Relative Athletic Score gods the Panthers could draft in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could draft Kevin Austin Jr.
- Wide Receiver | Notre Dame
- Relative Athletic Score – 9.94
Acquiring another wide receiver might not be among the Carolina Panthers’ top priorities. But that didn’t stop those in power from drafting two prospects last season and if the right man becomes available, then it’s something they’ll undoubtedly consider.
One player that might be available a little later on in the draft process that comes with some upside is Kevin Austin Jr. The Notre Dame product is a former teammate of Tommy Tremble and tested exceptionally well during his respective evaluations to attain a high Relative Athletic Score of 9.94 out of 10 to further highlight what he could do in a pro-environment.
After two basically redshirt years with the Fighting Irish due to injuries, Austin took full advantage of a more prominent role in 2021. The wideout caught 48 receptions for 888 receiving yards and seven touchdowns from 12 games, which also came with a yards-per-catch average of 18.8.
As the figures show, Austin is a supreme deep threat thanks to outstanding explosiveness and prolonged speed. The prospect is also a big body at 6-foot-2 that has no trouble beating opposing cornerbacks during contested catches.
Austin has enough elusiveness in the open field to make people miss. Providing there are no more health problems and his route tree develops, this could be a high-value option to consider in the mid-rounds.