Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Predicting 4 2021 Pro Bowlers from current defense

By Akshaj Dwivedula

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 12: Fred Warner #4 of the Brigham Young Cougars signals to the crowd as he and his team take the field before their game against the Boise State Broncos at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 12, 2015 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 12: Fred Warner #4 of the Brigham Young Cougars signals to the crowd as he and his team take the field before their game against the Boise State Broncos at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 12, 2015 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

Fred Warner

Two linebackers from the same team making the Pro Bowl? The 49ers haven’t had that since 2013 with Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. That seems like ages ago.

Well, if Fred Warner develops like I and many others expect him to, by 2021 the Niners should have a dynamic duo rivaling the talent of the aforementioned.

Fred Warner College Stats
Tack Tack Tack Tack Tack Def Def Def Def Def Fumb Fumb Fumb Fumb
Year School Class G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
*2014 Brigham Young FR 9 17 6 23 1.0 0.0 1 20 20.0 1 1 0 0
*2015 Brigham Young SO 13 46 20 66 12.0 4.0 2 27 13.5 0 1 4 0
*2016 Brigham Young JR 13 47 39 86 10.5 1.5 3 61 20.3 1 6 0 2
2017 Brigham Young SR 13 48 39 87 9.0 1.0 1 26 26.0 0 5 1 1
Career Brigham Young 158 104 262 32.5 6.5 7 134 19.1 2 13

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 8/6/2018.

Looking at these stats, you see how productive Warner was at BYU. 262 career tackles proves how he flies to the ball, and 13 pass defenses shows his coverage abilities.

And that will be Warner’s calling card in the NFL. Playing as a hybrid safety/linebacker in BYU’s system, Warner was asked to play more coverage than usual for a college linebacker.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in his scouting report for Warner that he “moves around like a big safety with his instincts and cover skills in space.” Our own Peter Panacy wrote how “Warner’s coverage skills are well above average for players at his position.”

With the NFL using pass reliant offenses that thrive on exploiting mismatches, Warner’s coverage ability cannot be overlooked.

If Warner can show his coverage chops, within no time, he should in contention for Pro Bowls. 2021 might be the start of something special for the 49ers.