NFL

Giants’ Austin admits he’s been a bust, vows to produce in 2013

Marvin Austin might be injury-prone and still tarred by college scandal, but he’s no fool.

After managing two measly solo tackles in eight appearances over two seasons, the defensive tackle and former second-round pick is aware his future as a Giant is officially in the “now or never” zone.

“Yeah, this is a pivotal point for me in my career,” Austin said yesterday as the Giants returned to practice after a team-building bowling trip. “I’ve been hurt the whole time I’ve been here.”

The North Carolina product at least gets credit for honesty and self-awareness, because that is a brutally accurate description of his Giants career to this point.

Thanks to an NCAA suspension that cost him his entire final college season, Austin barely has played since 2009. The Giants were expecting a lot more than five total tackles when they made him the 52nd overall pick three years ago, but chest and back injuries have kept Austin mostly on the shelf.

Austin is finally healthy now, but the Giants certainly weren’t waiting around for him this offseason.

Not only did they bring back veteran defensive tackle Shaun Rogers and sign former Eagles Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson, but Big Blue also used a second-round pick on Ohio State’s Johnathan Hankins to fight it out at that position with a group that already included Austin, Linval Joseph and Markus Kuhn.

That’s a lot of [big] bodies vying for not a lot of roster spots. No wonder Austin is so open about seeing the writing on the wall.

“At the end of the day, the National Football League is about competition and is a business,” Austin said. “I haven’t performed since I’ve been here. They’re looking to see if I can play at the high level they drafted me, and they’re going to protect themselves. They’re giving me a chance to compete, and that’s all I could ask for.”

Austin didn’t turn up on the stat sheet in last week’s 18-13 win at Pittsburgh in the preseason opener, but he did help the Giants limit the Steelers to 94 rushing yards and drew praise this week from defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

Then again, Fewell’s upbeat words also made it clear Austin shouldn’t look at Sunday’s exhibition matchup with the Colts at MetLife Stadium as just another game.

“Marvin performed well this past Saturday, and he’s progressed each week in practice,” Fewell told reporters Tuesday. “He’s had a full offseason with the [organized team activities], which he didn’t have in the past. I look for good things from him this Sunday.”

Tom Coughlin echoed his coordinator after practice yesterday, saying it’s time for Austin to produce.

“He’s a defensive tackle that we need to see playing in the fashion we anticipated when we drafted him,” Coughlin said.

As well as the constant injuries, Austin said he tried to get by on instinct in the past and didn’t pay enough attention to technique and learning the nuances of the position.

Austin said that’s all changed, and the Giants are about to see the positive results.

“I’m using good leverage and taking advantage of my talents, my quickness and my speed,” Austin said. “I’m just going out there and playing a technically sound game. I’ve just got to be more consistent. I can definitely do that.”

bhubbuch@nypost.com