NFL draft projections for Memphis’ Austin III, Parham

Calvin Austin III dug into his Twitter archive this week and found a tweet from April 27, 2017, when he was still a senior at Harding Academy.

“I love watching the NFL Draft, I pray I'll be there one day,” Austin wrote at the time.

Five years later, he and Memphis teammate Dylan Parham will have their moment this week as the draft takes place in Las Vegas. When the first one is selected, it will mark nine consecutive years that a Tigers player has been drafted.

For Austin, a former walk-on turned two-time ALL-AAC receiver, he still couldn't believe it was possible.

“Since Day One, since I got here, I had dreams of hearing my name on draft night,” Austin said after his Pro Day. “Early on, I believed but I really couldn't see it. I still worked and wanted to get there but now being at a point where I can almost see it, I don't really know if I can explain the feeling.”

Parham, a four-year offensive line starter, could be the second Tigers offensive lineman drafted in three years. Former teammate Dustin Woodard was drafted in the seventh round in 2020.

Here are the final mock draft projections for both players.

Austin has been projected between a third-to-fourth round selection since his stock rose after the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds.

NFL Network had Austin going 80th to the Houston Texans, CBS Sports had him 84th to the Pittsburgh Steelers and The Athletic pegged him going 90th to the Tennessee Titans. USA Today also had Austin as a third-round pick going

94th to the Kansas City Chiefs.

ESPN had Austin as a fourth-round selection in this week's mock draft despite draft analyst Todd Mcshay being higher on him as a third-round pick.

“He's a lightning rod and he's fun to watch. He's so quick and he's got to speed that look for,” Mcshay said on a draft conference call. “He's undersized so you worry a little bit about that frame and getting off the press. But if you move him around, he's so quick with his first two, three steps and his jitterbug moves .... he's able to get himself off of press man coverage.

“He's going to develop in a No. 4 (wide receiver) role but I think he's going to develop into a really good No. 3 slot receiver.”

Dylan Parham

Parham is viewed as a top center prospect despite never playing the position. CBS Sports and The Athletic have him going 65th and 67th, respectively to the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants.

USA Today had him higher at 63rd to the Cincinnati Bengals. ESPN and NFL Network were lower on him, with NFL Network slotting Parham at 102nd to the Miami Dolphins and ESPN having him at 109th to the Seattle Seahawks.

Mcshay was also high on Parham for his athleticism and flexibility.

“When he gets contact with guys, he does so with balance and his feet never stop driving. He's got a little bit of a leaner frame and different body type,” Mcshay said. “He's not country strong where he can just drive guys, he's just sudden, quick, agile movement (and) great for a zone scheme.

“I think he's a Day 2 pick and I think he's going to start, if not right away, then very early in his career.”