Newsstand: New Orleans Saints sign former Notre Dame wide receiver

Ex-Notre Dame wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. is back in the National Football League.

Austin went undrafted in 2022 but signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and spent that season on the practice squad. He was on the Jaguars’ practice squad to start the 2023 season but was waived at the end of August. In Jan. 2024, Austin joined the United Football League (UFL), playing for the Birmingham Stalions. He finished the 2024 season with 15 receptions for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The New Orleans Saints announced Monday that Austin has agree to terms as a free agent on a one-year deal according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter . It’s a fresh start for Austin, who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine.

Austin was one of the top playmakers for Notre Dame in 2021, leading the Fighting Irish with 888 receiving yards and tying for the team lead with 7 touchdowns. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. native had a tumultuous Irish career. After seeing action in 11 games as a freshman in 2018, Austin was suspended in 2019. He has fractured his foot twice since spring 2020 but has played a full season this year. Entering t3 2021 season, Austin had just 6 catches for 108 yards.

Notre Dame tweets of the day

Quote of the day

“I’m excited about my new partnership with Leaf, but what I really want is to ask other states who don’t allow NIL for high school athletes yet to consider changing with the times and being like Mississippi and all the other states who now allow it. Like some of my friends are great players and great people and they deserve NIL deals but aren’t allowed to do them just because they live in Texas, North Carolina or Ohio.”

— Irish QB commit Deuce Knight on signing an NIL deal with Leaf Trading Cards

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