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49ers: 5 FCS Prospects to Watch at the NFL Scouting Combine

By Logan Stanley

Feb 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A general view of Lucas Oil Stadium during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A general view of Lucas Oil Stadium during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 25, 2017; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad offensive tackle Antonio Garcia of Troy (53) battles defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon of Villanova (92) in a blocking drill during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2017; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad offensive tackle Antonio Garcia of Troy (53) battles defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon of Villanova (92) in a blocking drill during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon

A little-known commodity outside of Pennsylvania, the 22-year-old defensive end became a center of focus at the Senior Bowl with his dazzling physique. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 280 pounds, scouts were in awe of the Villanova product’s abs upon abs, as written by SI’s Pete Thamel. Kpassagnon’s body fat is reportedly a meager 4%.

Kpassagnon has shown glimpses of dominance –at the Senior Bowl, it is said he tossed around a highly rated offensive lineman prospect with ease— and has the on field production to backup the potential (in 2016: 21.5 tackles for loss; 11 sacks).

Kpassagnon seems to be one of the biggest wonders of this year’s draft. A regional NFL scout on the defensive end (h/t NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein).

“He’s raw but he’s got a chance,” the scout wrote. “He’s quiet and I don’t think football is going to define him, Do you know what I mean? I just want to make sure that he loves football.”

With a body frame similar to Jason Pierre-Paul, the raw potential Kpassagnon carries is salivating. The defensive end is no slouch in the mental department either — Kpassagnon is currently a finance major at the Villanova School of Business. No character concerns only heighten his draft stock, a key factor moving forward when it comes to determining what a “49ers player” is.

Next: Predicting San Francisco 49ers 2017 Starting Lineup

This next week is going to be an important one for the 49ers. This team is deprived of talent and San Francisco needs to find it anywhere they can –FBS, FCS, Division II, etc. There are diamonds in the rough.