Niner Noise
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49ers 2019 NFL Draft needs: Power ranking top 5 wide receivers

By Peter Panacy

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: A.J. Brown #1 of the Mississippi Rebels points to the sky after scoring a touchdown against the Southern Illinois Salukis during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: A.J. Brown #1 of the Mississippi Rebels points to the sky after scoring a touchdown against the Southern Illinois Salukis during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – NOVEMBER 10: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with a catch against the Auburn Tigers on November 10, 2018 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – NOVEMBER 10: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with a catch against the Auburn Tigers on November 10, 2018 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Sure, Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley’s collegiate numbers don’t exactly jump off the paper. But it’s important to note the Bulldogs offense is far more run heavy, thereby limiting the chances the 6-foot-1, 199-pound Ridley received over his three years in college:

Riley Ridley Receiving & Rushing Table
Rece Rece Rece Rece Scri Scri Scri
Year School Conf Class Pos G Rec Yds Avg TD Plays Yds Avg
*2016 Georgia SEC FR WR 6 12 238 19.8 2 15 279 18.6
*2017 Georgia SEC SO WR 8 14 218 15.6 2 15 223 14.9
*2018 Georgia SEC JR WR 14 43 559 13.0 9 43 559 13.0
Career Georgia 69 1015 14.7 13 73 1061 14.5

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/6/2019.

This isn’t unlike the case with New Orleans Saints No. 1 wide receiver Michael Thomas, whose pro-level production wasn’t at all reflected by his collegiate numbers.

Ridley could be on the same trajectory.

While Ridley’s 4.58 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t particularly impressive, Ridley wins over a player like Kelvin Harmon with much better route-running abilities — arguably more important to Kyle Shanahan than just straight-line speed.

Plus, according to the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman, the Niners met with Ridley at the combine, therefore showing at least some moderate interest to start.

Ridley is looking to be a late second-round prospect, currently. But if he ends up falling into Round 3, and the 49ers haven’t grabbed a wide receiver yet, don’t be shocked if he winds up being San Francisco’s third overall selection this April.