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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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Nov 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) celebrates his first quarter touchdown with teammates in their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech won 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) celebrates his first quarter touchdown with teammates in their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech won 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Perseverance Through Adversity

First, Smelter had to overcome the disappointment of not being able to play baseball due to shoulder pain and issues.

Next, after a four-year drought of not playing football, Smelter returns to the field with a passion and thirst for the competition like no other.

Just take a look at what Smelter’s former head coach Paul Johnson had to say about the wide receiver’s tenure at Georgia Tech:

And Smelter has also shown an eagerness to start making contributions for the 49ers, now that he’s healthy from his collegiate injury.

Smelter played at a tremendously high level at Georgia Tech, and he had experience coming out of a triple-option offense there, which was more run-oriented — creating more blocking repetition and development on the flip side check and balance.

There’s no doubt, and without question, that general manager Trent Baalke saw Smelter’s perseverance through adversity and ability to overcome setbacks.

To go along with Smelter’s high character, he was worth taking a chance on with the 132nd pick overall in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

The only remaining question is to see whether or not Smelter can translate this over to the field with the Niners.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: Continuing the Trend of Taking Care of Their Own?

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.