Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers training camp 2018: 5 players who have impressed the most so far

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers is wearing jersey #44 while participating in drill during practice on September 11, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. Hayne was wearing the #44 jersey for the 49ers scout team preparing for Monday nights game against the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers is wearing jersey #44 while participating in drill during practice on September 11, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. Hayne was wearing the #44 jersey for the 49ers scout team preparing for Monday nights game against the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 29: Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled after a short gain by DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first half during their game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 29: Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled after a short gain by DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first half during their game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Defensive Tackle DeForest Buckner

A year removed from a Pro Bowl-snub season in 2018 — one in which resulted in him being named Pro Football Focus‘ No. 43 overall player heading into this season — third-year pro DeForest Buckner is on the verge of having a massive breakout-like campaign.

Sure, his three sacks a year ago don’t look great on the stat sheet. But it doesn’t tell the story behind his 19 quarterback hits a year ago, which were tops among all defenders, per PFF.

It looks as if that’s going to continue into 2018.

Buckner has been a regular standout on nearly every camp daily review from nearly every beat writer and insider. Here’s what Niners Wire’s Chris Biderman had to say about Buckner’s early training camp efforts:

"DeForest Buckner, the other first-round pick in 2016, has been his dominant self early on and seems poised for his first Pro-Bowl berth."

And 49ers.com’s Joe Fann:

It would be easy to rank Buckner higher on this list, of course. But it’s pretty certain most fans expected him to be here anyway.