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DeAndre Smelter: 49ers Wide Receiver Has a Huge Upside with Untapped Potential

By Sequoia Sims

Oct 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) runs with the ball against the Duke Blue Devils in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Duke won 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) runs with the ball against the Duke Blue Devils in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Duke won 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2014; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) scores on a 75 yard run with 3:07 left in the fourth quarter as North Carolina Tar Heels cornerback Desmond Lawrence (2) defends. The Tar Heels defeated the Yellow Jackets 48-43 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2014; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) scores on a 75 yard run with 3:07 left in the fourth quarter as North Carolina Tar Heels cornerback Desmond Lawrence (2) defends. The Tar Heels defeated the Yellow Jackets 48-43 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Big-Play Ability 

Smelter caught 35 passes for 715 receiving yards with seven touchdowns, while averaging a whopping 20.4 yards per reception before his season was cut short by a season-ending ACL tear on November 29, 2014.

This didn’t stop him from being a target of the 49ers in the subsequent NFL Draft.

San Francisco saw big-play capability and made the move in spite of Smelter’s injury concerns. To get an idea of his potential, take a look at the videos below:

Prior to his 2014 injury, Smelter started the season on fire by stockpiling three consecutive 100-yard receiving games and added an electric 75-yard rushing touchdown in a blowout win over North Carolina.

Look for head coach Chip Kelly to maximize Smelter’s big-play ability while unlocking his potential at the same time.

Next: Smelter's Ability to Overcome Adversity