UNC's Austin undecided for 2010 season

North Carolina junior Marvin Austin gets asked the same question no matter where he goes: Is he going to jump to the NFL in 2010 or come back to UNC for his senior season?

His answer? It will have to wait.

The affable big man says he hasn't made a decision about his future and rumors to the contrary aren't true. The 6-3, 305-pound defensive tackle is considered one of the best at his position in this NFL Draft and a potential first-round pick.

"I think about from time to time," Austin said. "But it's nothing that really weights heavy on my heart, because if I don't take care of what I need to do out here, the NFL is not in my future."

Austin said the NFL talk is a distraction, he even complained about it on Twitter account last week, which is why he has tabled it until the season ends. He swears he hasn't read about his own draft stock on the Internet, where ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him the third-best junior at his position.

"When the time is right, and it's not a distraction, I'll sit down with coach," Austin said. "I'm pretty sure I'll make the best decision for me and my family."

Austin has 33 tackles and two sacks this season. A five-star recruit out of Washington, and one of the best players signed by Butch Davis at UNC, Austin has been more consistent in his junior season, his second as a starter.

Austin's generally considered UNC's best draft prospect with junior linebackers Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter. Carter said earlier this week that he will return to UNC for his senior season.