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Tavon Austin | Wide Receiver

Team: St. Louis Rams
Age / DOB:  (22) / 3/15/1991
Ht / Wt:  5'8' / 174
College: West Virginia
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Rams signed No. 8 overall pick WR Tavon Austin to a four-year contract.
It's not often that we see the team's first-round pick become the first member of his team's draft class to sign. Austin, Jared Cook, and Brian Quick have been the talk of Rams OTAs. We fully expect the 5-foot-8 jitterbug to line up all over the formation in St. Louis, and it would be a shock if he didn't lead the team in targets. Austin is Rotoworld's No. 40 receiver at the moment. Jun 13 - 4:21 PM

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Player News

Date:
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

No. 8 pick WR Tavon Austin took some snaps at running back in Rams OTAs Friday.

It's not a surprise for a player who rushed for 643 yards last season, but is further confirmation the Rams will use Austin all over the formation. St. Louis hopes to have found its own version of Percy Harvin and Randall Cobb.
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
May 27 - 12:28 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

Coach Jeff Fisher confirmed he envisions a big role for Tavon Austin right away.

Fisher wants Austin to be a weapon out of the slot, take some handoffs out of the backfield and be a factor in the return game. "We're going to try to get the ball to him as often as we can, however we do that," Fisher said. The Rams clearly envision Austin influencing games in the same vein as Randall Cobb and Percy Harvin. They're loading up his plate.
Source: Profootballtalk on NBCSports.com
May 14 - 9:09 AM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

According to SI's Peter King, more than one team was "afraid" of No. 8 pick Tavon Austin heading into the draft.

Teams were apparently worried hangers on from Austin's past would follow him into the league, proving a distraction. Austin alluded to the problem in a weekend interview with the Rams' website. "Everybody expects a lot of things from you as far as money," Austin said. "Everybody wants to be around you. My phone doesn’t stop ringing now. It feels like they’re counting my bank account now. So that’s probably the hardest thing for me right now, just people." The fact that Austin himself is already leery of the "issue" means it's unlikely to be an issue at all. The Rams got the top playmaker in the draft.
Source: Sports Illustrated
May 13 - 10:35 AM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

New Rams WR Tavon Austin expects to get snaps out of the backfield this season in addition to playing slot receiver and returning kicks.

The Rams plan to use Austin as a movable chess piece, a la Percy Harvin and Randall Cobb. "They showed me all the positions that I did when I played for Coach (Dana) Holgorsen," Austin said, referring to his college coach. "They’re going to use me in the backfield. Coach Fisher talked to me about special teams, and I’m definitely a slot receiver. So, they definitely have a plan for me." Austin rushed 62 times for 643 yards last season, and famously torched Oklahoma for 344 yards on 21 carries. He'll be a fantasy threat from day one.
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
Apr 29 - 2:11 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

New Rams WR Tavon Austin believes he can stay healthy in the NFL despite his 5-foot-8, 174-pound frame.

"I haven’t missed a game in eight years, and that’s high school and in college," Austin said. "I’m going to try to come into the league and take care of my body. Get down when I need to get down, and step out of bounds when I need to." The man Austin is replacing — the 5-foot-11, 188-pound Danny Amendola — missed a combined 20 games the past two seasons. Austin can take inspiration from 5-foot-6, 190-pound Darren Sproles, who's missed just four games since 2007.
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
Apr 26 - 2:16 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

According to the New York Daily News, the Jets "would have selected" Tavon Austin with the No. 9 pick had he not come off the board one selection earlier.

CB Dee Milliner now has one more player he can be unfairly compared to. It also means the Rams were justified in trading up for their top target. Per reporter Manish Mehta, both Austin and Milliner were in the top four on the Jets' big board. GM John Idzik figures to come away from day two with at least one potential playmaker on offense.
Related: Jets
Source: Manish Mehta on Twitter
Apr 26 - 9:31 AM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

Rams traded up to select West Virginia WR Tavon Austin with the No. 8 overall pick, sending the Nos. 16, 46, 78 and 222 picks to the Bills.

They also got back the 71st pick. Desperate to surround Sam Bradford with playmakers, the Rams pay a pretty penny to get the premier skill player in the entire draft. Austin (5-foot-8 1/2, 174) caught 215 balls for 2,475 yards (11.5 YPR) and 20 touchdowns over his final two college seasons, also rushing 88 times for 825 yards (9.4 YPC) and four more scores. He scored five career return touchdowns, four on kickoffs and one on a punt. Austin ran 4.34 in Indy with a 10-foot broad jump and 4.01 short shuttle, the second fastest of all receivers. Although not as physical as Percy Harvin, Austin possesses similar versatility, elusiveness, and explosive burst. Pencil him as a four-down game-changer that could lead the Rams in targets as a rookie.
Related: Bills
Apr 25 - 9:07 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah reports the Rams are "smitten" with West Virginia WR Tavin Austin and could be willing to trade up to No. 6 to pick him.

The Browns hold the No. 6 overall pick and have been rumored to be willing to trade back. If the Rams really want Austin, they'll likely have to jump in front of the Bills and Jets at Nos. 8 and 9 respectively. St. Louis is sitting at No. 16 and would probably have to trade away its second- and third-round picks to make the jump. NFL Network's Jeff Darlington envisions the Rams trading up from 16 and trading back from 22 on Thursday night.
Related: Browns, Rams
Apr 25 - 8:01 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Rams are discussing a trade with the Bills, targeting West Virginia's Tavon Austin.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen mentioned something similar minutes ago. The 16-to-8 climb would be steep for St. Louis, likely costing the Rams at least their second-round pick (No. 46) and possibly a late-rounder, too. GM Les Snead should go get Austin if he believes he's a game-changer, but that's a ton of compensation for a 5-foot-9, 174-pound football player, regardless of how elusive Austin is.
Related: Rams, Bills
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Apr 25 - 7:24 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday evening that West Virginia WR Tavon Austin is a lock to be drafted in the top-ten picks.

"He will not get past the top-10 picks," Schefter stated. "That will not happen." Schefter believes Austin will be taken at No. 8, but not necessarily by the Bills. If he did get by No. 8, the Jets would likely snap up Austin at No. 9. Austin has been one of the hottest names throughout the pre-draft process. His buzz hasn't slowed down one iota just an hour and a half before the real thing.
Related: Bills, Jets
Apr 25 - 6:20 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports the Rams could trade up from No. 16 to No. 13 if the Jets pass on West Virginia WR Tavon Austin at No. 9.

Such a move would get the Rams their man, while keeping the Jets in position to snag an impact player. The Rams would likely have to surrender the No. 46 pick in such a scenario, which would be a steep price to move up just three spots. It would be an impetus to auction off the No. 22 pick to the highest bidder.
Related: Rams, Jets
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter
Apr 25 - 5:20 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

ESPN's Todd McShay stated on SportsCenter Thursday he's hearing "a lot of buzz" about the Rams trading up for Tavon Austin.

Meanwhile, colleague Adam Schefter is reporting the Rams have put the No. 22 pick up for sale, perhaps in order to recoup some picks they'd surrender in a trade-up for Austin. St. Louis would have to get in front of the Jets to safely secure Austin. Moving from No. 16 to No. 8 might cost St. Louis both of its other top-80 selections (Nos. 46 and 78). Throughout the pre-draft process, it's been clear the Rams covet Austin. But that's a very steep price.
Related: Rams
Apr 25 - 3:10 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

The New York Daily News "hears" the No. 9 overall pick may be too early for the Jets to select West Virginia WR Tavon Austin.

The Jets really like Austin, but they may be targeting a defensive player with the ninth pick before trying to come back around at No. 13 and snap up the slot receiver. A source tells Profootballtalk's Mike Florio that he "believes" Austin will indeed be a top-ten selection Thursday night. So, if the Jets really want Austin, they may have to take him at No. 9.
Related: Jets
Source: Manish Mehta on Twitter
Apr 25 - 2:49 PM
Tavon Austin - WR - Rams

ESPN New York's Rich Cimini reports the Jets "love" West Virginia WR Tavon Austin.

Cimini adds the team isn't as high on LSU OLB Barkevious Mingo as some think, and the Jets may be targeting an interior defensive lineman with one of their two first-round picks. Austin at No. 9 seems to be the highest he would go -- unless someone traded into the Bills' No. 8 spot, of course. If Gang Green is eyeing an interior defensive lineman, Star Lotulelei may be an option.
Related: Jets, Barkevious Mingo, Star Lotulelei
Source: Rich Cimini on Twitter
Apr 25 - 1:14 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Sam Bradford
2Austin Davis
3Kellen Clemens
4Tim Jenkins
RB1Isaiah Pead
2Zac Stacy
3Daryl Richardson
4Terrance Ganaway
5Chase Reynolds
GLB1Zac Stacy
2Isaiah Pead
3RB1Isaiah Pead
2Daryl Richardson
FB1Eric Stevens
WR11Tavon Austin
2Chris Givens
3Stedman Bailey
4Nicholas Johnson
WR21Austin Pettis
2Brian Quick
3Raymond Radway
4Emory Blake
5Andrew Helmick
WR31Chris Givens
TE1Jared Cook
2Lance Kendricks
3Mike McNeill
4Cory Harkey
5Zach Potter
K1Greg Zuerlein
2Brett Baer