West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin has all the tools to succeed at the next level.
He's fast and elusive. His 14 reps on the bench show he's got some power built into that 5-foot-9, 174-pound frame, too. We'll get a better idea of Austin's explosiveness Sunday at the NFL Scouting Combine, but NFL Network's Marshall Faulk doesn't need to see anything else to be convinced.
"Listen to me, I am pounding the desk," Faulk said on Saturday's "NFL Total Access." "This guy here is a playmaker. He's Percy Harvin and Wes Welker wrapped into one."
That's some heady praise from a Hall of Famer. We've heard the (logical) comparison to Harvin before. As for Welker, Austin has studied plenty of tape of the New England Patriots' star. Faulk believes Austin's a faster, quicker version of Welker, who he calls his "No. 1 guy."
It's safe to say Austin agrees with Faulk as well. He was asked earlier this week if he feels he's the best multidimensional prospect on the board.
"I think so," Austin quickly replied, via The Baltimore Sun. "I think I'm the all-around best player in the draft. A lot of teams are looking for that type of player to do multiple things on the field, and I think I'm that guy."
Meanwhile, the Patriots might have the opportunity to effectively replace Welker with Austin come April. Sean Maguire would call this ironical.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
