From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Cal CB Brent Austin.
No. 4 Brent Austin/CB Cal 5110/180 (Fourth-year Senior)
Measurements
Player
Ht/Wt
Hand Size
Arm Length
Wingspan
Brent Austin
5110/180
N/A
N/A
N/A
40-Yard Dash
10-Yard Dash
Short Shuttle
3-Cone
4.45
N/A
N/A
N/A
Broad Jump
Vertical
Bench Press
10’4″
31.5″
N/A
The Good
– Great length that allows him to play bigger than his listed height
– Wiry and strong frame that can absorb contact without giving up ground
– Possesses the raw, top-end recovery speed to carry receivers vertically
– Explosive “click-and-close” ability with violent
– Fluid hips and ankles with elite ankle flexion
– Fantastic mirroring ability with great anticipation
– Successful when pressing the line of scrimmage
– Demonstrates an advanced understanding of route combinations
– Eyes are fixed on the quarterback’s “triangle”
– Plays with patience and awareness in zone coverage
– Attacks the ball in the air aggressively
– Capable of tracking the ball consistently
– Knows how to swipe through the receiver’s hands without drawing a penalty
– Gritty, willing run defender
The Bad
– Stiff knees that force him to play with a raised pad level during his back pedal
– Prone to delays in his deceleration against twitchier route runners
– Struggles to transition his movements quickly
– Low interception output despite a high amount of pass deflections
– Lower weight brings physicality concerns against bigger NFL receivers
Stats
– 2025 stats: 42 tackles, 13 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, 6 missed tackles, 13 games played
– Career stats: 110 tackles, 3 interceptions, 24 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, 2 touchdowns, 17 missed tackles, 42 games played
– USF Career stats: 48 tackles, 2 interceptions, 10 pass deflections, 1 touchdown, 9 missed tackles, 13 games played
– JMU Career stats: 20 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection, 1 touchdown, 2 missed tackles, 16 games played
– Ranked second in FBS with 13 pass deflections (2025)
– 33 percent forced incompletion percentage (2025)
– Allowed 22 receptions (2025)
– 13.6 adjusted depth of target against (2025)
Injury History
– Dealt with a nagging knee injury and proceeded to have surgery (2023)
– Suffered a minor injury vs. Oregon State but was able to walk off the field under his own power and didn’t miss significant time (2025)
Background
– Born December 19th, 2003 (22 years old)
– Began collegiate career at James Madison before transferring to USF for a season and finishing his career at Cal
– Unranked recruit out of Cajon High School despite being named to the first-team All-Citrus Belt League as a senior
– Named first-team All-Ambassador league as a junior and second-team as a sophomore
– Helped his team win the CIF Regional Championship as a sophomore
– Star track athlete who qualified for the Division 1 finals in the 100m and recorded a personal best of 10.95 seconds
– Anchored a 4×100 relay team that ranked fourth in California
– His only FBS offer came from James Madison and Curt Cignetti
– Honor Roll student throughout high school with a 3.5 GPA
– All-ACC third-team (2025)
– Athletic Honor Roll with USF (2024)
– Named to Dean’s List and Sun Belt Commissioner’s List (2023)
– Earned JMU’s Athletic Director’s Scholar-Athlete (2023)
– Nicknamed “Paco”
– Participated in initiatives to help the homeless
– Active in his church’s community service
– Partners with RallyFuel and Fanstake, allowing fans to directly contribute to his NIL fund
– Uses his brand to promote his training regimen, “Lockdown Academy”
Tape Breakdown
Austin, who recorded the second-most pass deflections in the country last season, has flown under the radar during pre-draft season. His tape, however, is excellent, starting with his athleticism. He isn’t the most physically imposing cornerback at 5’11” and 180 pounds, but he plays much bigger than his size. Austin’s length helps compensate for his smaller stature, and his frame is stronger and wirier than it is lean.
What makes him lethal in coverage is his short-area burst. Austin possesses exceptional click-and-close ability. In a fraction of a second, he can plant his back foot and accelerate downhill on breaking routes and toward ball carriers.
Although he isn’t an overly physical corner, Austin is highly effective in press-man coverage. He won’t lunge or fire two-handed jams at receivers on every rep. He recognized that would compromise his base balance and open the door for a clean release.
Instead, he leans on a “soft-shoe” technique. He keeps his feet active and parallel, but above all, he stays patient. His success comes from forcing the receiver to declare his release path first. Once the receiver commits, Austin fires an aggressive one-handed jam that disrupts timing without drawing a flag for holding.
Austin excelled at mirroring receivers downfield from his press alignment. He stays square to the line of scrimmage for as long as possible, forcing the receiver to widen his release toward the sideline. This ultimately allows Austin to use the boundary as an extra defender.
He transitions well when opening his hips to turn and run, minimizing wasted motion. Even when he’s briefly a step behind, he doesn’t panic, as his recovery speed helps him close the window while the ball is in the air.
He’s more effective mirroring receivers in man coverage, but he also does well sitting back in zone. Austin shows a solid understanding of route combinations and uses his spatial awareness well. He doesn’t just cover grass and react to a receiver entering his area. Instead, he keeps his eyes locked on the quarterback.
He keys the quarterback’s “triangle” to anticipate where the ball is going. He notices the quarterback’s drop depth, shoulder angle, and line of sight to predict where the ball will most likely go. Once the ball is out, Austin leans on his outstanding closing burst. He drives on the throw and gets his hand into the receiver’s pocket to break up the pass.
Arguably the most underrated aspect of his game — and the clearest example of him playing bigger than his size — is his effort as a tackler. Many corners with his frame default to ankle dives to minimize contact and avoid injury. Austin prefers to get his hands dirty.
He’s a highly willing, gritty run defender. He doesn’t just throw his shoulder; he’s a technically sound, wrap-up tackler who runs his feet through contact and finishes plays.
Conclusion
Austin is a player I’m much higher on than most. He’s a good athlete who plays well above his listed size and should be able to contribute immediately on defense and special teams.
His ability to close on the ball in the air is highly impressive. His short-area burst is top-tier, allowing him to erase cushion in an instant. Paired with his stickiness and ability to mirror a receiver’s hip, he’s an effective man-coverage corner.
His excellence in man doesn’t come at the expense of his work in zone, either. He shows strong spatial awareness and a clear understanding of route concepts. He anticipates where the ball is likely to go and can drive on it as soon as the quarterback commits.
Ideally, he lands in a defense that leans on Cover 1 or Cover 3. In Cover 1, his press-man skills, length, and burst are maximized, allowing him to smother receivers at the line. In Cover 3, he can keep his eyes on the quarterback, trigger downhill, and effectively shut down his side of the field.
A useful blueprint for Austin is Darious Williams. Both are on the smaller side but play much bigger than their frames. Williams carved out a career by leaning on anticipation and timing, traits Austin shares. Neither is a classic ball hawk, but both make their presence felt by consistently disrupting passes at the catch point.
NFL Draft Projection: Late Day Three
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.5 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.0 – 8.0
Games Watched: vs. UNC (2025), vs. Virginia (2025), @ Louisville (2025)