Brent Austin

Brent "Paco" Austin (born December 19, 2003) is an American professional football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the James Madison Dukes, South Florida Bulls, and California Golden Bears. Austin was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2026.

Early life Austin was born on December 19, 2003, to Blaze and Christina Austin. Coming out of high school, Austin was a zero-star recruit.

South Florida Following Cignetti's departure from James Madison to coach the Indiana Hoosiers, Austin transferred to the University of South Florida. He cited to school's track record of developing future NFL defensive backs such as Nnamdi Asomugha and Camryn Bynum as a major reason behind his decision to play for California.

Austin later garnered significant attention from NFL teams at the 2026 East–West Shrine Bowl, demonstrating proficiency in coverage ability, tackling technique, and play recognition.

Professional career

Denver Broncos After going unselected in the 2026 NFL draft, Austin drew interest from multiple teams as an undrafted free agent. He eventually signed with the Denver Broncos on May 8, 2026. On August 30, Austin was waived by the Broncos. The next day, he re-signed to the practice squad.

Personal life Austin has Mexican heritage, and received the Spanish-language nickname "Paco" from his father as a child. His younger brother Brayden played college football as a wide receiver for Citrus College. He has two sisters, Kaylah and Cassandra.