Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers training camp: 6 biggest risers and fallers so far

By Robert Smith

SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 23: Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in drills during 49ers Rookie Minicamp on May 23, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 23: Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in drills during 49ers Rookie Minicamp on May 23, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 28: Lorenzo Jerome #22 of the North team celebrates with teammates after catching an interception during the second half of the Reese’s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 28: Lorenzo Jerome #22 of the North team celebrates with teammates after catching an interception during the second half of the Reese’s Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Lorenzo Jerome: Riser

If you have read some of my other articles over the past few months, this name is probably familiar to you now.

Defensive back Lorenzo Jerome, the small-school (St. Francis) undrafted free agent is a playmaker on defense, plain and simple.

More from SF 49ers News

If his 18 interceptions during his college career aren’t enough, he has already picked off two more so far in camp.

But it’s not just his early camp success that has him rising quickly, but a slew of injuries to other players in the secondary that could push him further up the depth chart.

During the first week of camp, the team has seen presumptive starters Jimmie Ward (hamstring) and Eric Reid (ankle) go down with injuries.

To add to that bad news, Jaquiski Tartt (ribs), the immediate backup at safety, also was dinged up. And while none of the injuries appears to be serious, the injury history of both players and overall lack of veteran depth at the safety position is a cause for concern for the Niners.

Jerome is taking first-team reps to start the fourth day of camp, and will compete with Chanceller James and Tartt until Reid and Ward can get back out on the field.

With his playmaking ability and repeated reps, Jerome’s stock is rising, and he may not be taking a back seat for long.