49ers’ 2018 ‘Who Is?’ series: Defensive Lineman Kentavius Street

RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 31: Kentavius Street #35 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack tackles Charone Peake #19 of the Clemson Tigers during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 31, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 31: Kentavius Street #35 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack tackles Charone Peake #19 of the Clemson Tigers during their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 31, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Niner Noise’s 2018 “Who Is?” series looks at the San Francisco 49ers’ injury-risk NFL Draft selection of defensive lineman Kentavius Street and what they’ll hope to get out of him down the road.

San Francisco 49ers fans had visions of former general manager Trent Baalke, when the Niners elected to grab former NC State defensive lineman Kentavius Street in Round 4 of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Why? Street tore his ACL during his pro day. He’ll miss his rookie year most likely, meaning Street will be redshirted in 2018 with the hopes of turning into something solid in 2019.

Had Street not tore his ACL, though, it’s not hard to understand why San Francisco was intrigued.

At 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, Street is versatile enough to play multiple spots along the defensive line in either a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment, although the latter is probably a better fit. And it’s nice to see he flashed some solid pass-rushing abilities from the interior, especially his junior year:

Kentavius Street Defense & Fumbles Table
TackTackTackTackTackDefFumbFumb
YearSchoolConfClassPosGSoloAstTotLossSkPDFRFF
*2014North Carolina StateACCFRDE11913221.00.0100
*2015North Carolina StateACCSODT111020302.50.0211
*2016North Carolina StateACCJRDE121317309.05.5110
*2017North Carolina StateACCSRDE121622386.52.5121
CareerNorth Carolina State487212019.08.0542

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 7/1/2018.

Street’s injury is unfortunate. But there’s little questioning how strong he is. Niners Nation shared a video after the draft of Street squatting 700 pounds. And he benched 28 reps at the NFL Scouting Combine before his pro day injury.

ACL injuries can ruin careers, but it’s possible players bounce back from them too. Particularly if they’re young.

The latter is what the 49ers are hoping for.

Why Kentavius Street Improves

Usually we project improvements or regressions for 2018, but that doesn’t make much sense in this unique case.

First, Street would have to be able to recover from his debilitating ACL injury. That alone will be tough. But if he’s able to come back in 2019 as good as new, there are more than enough reasons to assume he’d be a solid addition to San Francisco’s D-line.

His frame indicates a short, squatty defender who plays with excellent pad level and leverage. He’s not built to be a true edge rusher in a 4-3 alignment, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him lined up as a backup 3-technique or even a 5-technique at the left (big) defensive end position.

Why He Regresses

Street is reminiscent of former 49ers defensive lineman, Tank Carradine, who also dealt with an ACL injury when he was taken in Round 2 of the 2013 NFL Draft. Carradine projected to be more of a 4-3 fit, yet he was placed into a 3-4 role and didn’t quite thrive.

Not until the beginning of 2017, at least, before he suffered a serious high-ankle sprain.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Carradine took years to adjust and develop into a workable player, and it seems like Street could be on the same trajectory. One shouldn’t expect him to showcase those pass-rushing skills from college, nor should street be viewed as an every-down player.

Expected Role with the 49ers

Street likely winds up on injured reserve this season, stashed by the Niners with the hope of playing in 2019 and afterwards.

Speaking of Carradine, he did end up being a nice rotational piece and was particularly effective against the run last season. That’s likely where San Francisco puts Street, especially after losing Carradine to free agency this offseason.

And as Niners Wire’s Jerod Brown pointed out, Street’s presence could make a 2019-and-beyond decision on fellow D-lineman Arik Armstead a bit easier. The Niners picked up Armstead’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason, although it won’t become fully guaranteed until the start of the league’s new year in 2019.

Like Street, Armstead doesn’t have a clearly defined role. Only Armstead will have to find his niche now, while Street can take a year to develop.

Next: 3 trades the 49ers should explore making before Week 1

If Armstead winds up being expendable, letting him walk after 2018 is made a bit easier by Street’s presence.

As long as he recovers, though.