Meet The Rookies

The 49ers will be starting 6 rookies this season (including nickel corner and slot receiver). So we asked each of them two questions. What NFL player do you emulate/pattern your game after? What do you have to prove in the NFL?

Obviously I have looked up to Cam Newton for a long time, following in his footsteps at Auburn. But our games aren’t really similar. But a player that I have patterned my game off of and studied a bunch is Philip Rivers. He’s a guy that gets it done with accuracy and game feel. Like me, he doesn’t move around too much. But we both try to buy time by manipulating the pocket. Neither of us have the strongest arm, but we can complete the deep ball, which is all that matters.

 

I want to prove the All-Star game was a fluke. I’ve known Jarion since we were coming up in high school. He’s an outstanding quarterback and the Chargers are going to be better with him. But I think I can be better. He got the best of me in that game, but I’ll spend my whole career trying to make up for it.

Who doesn’t want to be the next Bronson Swagner? That dude killed it for [Niners GM/Owner] Kelly in L.A. But I’ll tell you a guy I loved watching growing up, Michael Bennett for the Vikings. Like me, he ran a sub 4.3 40 and looked like a stud his first few years. Obviously injuries cost him, but gaining over 1600 yards after Robert Smith retired showed what he could do in the NFL. I want to do the same, but keep it going.

 

I’m going to prove I’m my own player. I’m not the next Swagner or Bennet or Charles. I’m the first Devyn Payne. I’m going to prove the Niners right for taking me and I’m going to learn as much as I can from Carlos Hyde while we form the best pound and ground attack in the league.

Can I cop out and say Joe Staley? Alright, let me think. Well the two best tackles from Arizona State were Marvel Smith and Levi Jones. I’ve talked to both of those guys a bunch and I’m just glad I didn’t end up in the AFC North. I heard horror stories about the physical toll of playing all those division games. Santa Clara is much more like my hometown of Mesa anyway.

 

I want to prove that I can make the transition to guard. I’ve played tackle my whole life, since I’ve been at least 6’4” since I was 12. High school QB’s couldn’t see over me on the inside, so they always stuck me out on the edge. But the Niners have 2 giant tackles in Solder and Brown and they just traded for a stud tackle Tunsil, so it will be a long time before I get a shot at tackle here. That’s fine though. I’m just excited they gave me a chance to compete for a starting spot. I don’t care where it is.

Man, this one is easy. Aquan Boldin. I was 11 when I saw the game where he broke his face. No, really, he broke his face. The man needed surgery to repair all the broken bones in his face. I thought he was done after that. Then, he plays 3 weeks later. He only missed two games! His quarterback almost retired from the hit and he missed less games than guys with a tight hamstring. That’s who I want to be. The most physical player on the field, every single play. If I can do it as long as Boldin did, man that would be awesome.

 

I want to prove that my final year at Mount Union wasn’t a fluke. It took me a while to get on the field. Had some issues with the coaches, but that’s in the past. I’m the guy from my junior year, not the guy that barely played those first two years. They tell me the NFL is bigger and faster than college, but I don’t see a lot of corners as big as me. We’ll see. It should be fun.

I didn’t really follow the NFL growing up. My mom wouldn’t let me play football, so I played basketball and baseball and ran track. I wasn’t tall enough to play forward in college and I had Tommy John surgery my senior year. So I decided to try out at South Carolina. Glad I did. Hitting people fun. I guess I just want to learn from Reuben Foster and Coach Young. Can I change my answer? I want to be just like Bryant Young. Think he’ll read this?

 

I don't really have anything to prove. I'm going to keep getting better every day. I love playing football. I'm going to work as hard as I can so that I can keep playing for as long as possible. Everything else will work itself out.

Kyle Kuzma! Haha. Just kidding. When I was a freshman, it was his last year at Utah. I told him that I’d be following him to the NBA in a few years. He was like my big brother. But bball just wasn’t for me and the football coaches finally got me to give up ball. Now I want to be the next Devin Hester. I think I’m faster. People say I am crazy, but I think I am. Coach Young says I’ll have a shot at return man. I’ll show you.

 

Everyone says don’t watch the draft shows. I watched them all. I heard all the pundits. They all said I was an athlete that couldn’t play. I can play. The Niners knew that. That Woods cat the Rams drafted has been yapping. We’ll see who ends up on top.