San Francisco 49ers: 5 fun facts about rookie Jauan Jennings

Niner Noise lists five fun facts about the 49ers’ rookie wide receiver, Jauan Jennings.

A couple of months ago, the San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver Jauan Jennings with the No. 217 overall pick, taking place in the seventh round in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound rookie out of the University of Tennessee provides the Niners with a sturdy, big-bodied option to use in the slot. He sat out one season with the Vols due to injury, he’s not fast by today’s standards and he is no stranger to controversy.

But his talent is undeniable, and he’d make a worthy roster addition, especially considering he broke 30 tackles on 59 receptions last year.

Here’s a closer look at the 49ers’ newest receiving threat, as Niner Noise breaks down five fun facts you’ll want to know about the receiver.

No. 5: Jauan Jennings’ athletic family and background

Jauan Jennings played football and basketball in high school. Per 49ers.com, his father, Bennie, played college football at North Alabama while his sister, Alexis, played basketball at Kentucky and South Carolina.

No. 4: 49ers are getting a dual-threat quarterback in high school

According to Bleacher Report, Jennings led Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to a championship in 2013, and he recorded 1,500 yards passing, 815 yards rushing and a combined 24 touchdowns in his high school career.

A year later, Jennings was named Mr. Football, Division I Class AAA Back of the Year, and in 2015 he converted to a wide receiver at the University of Tennessee.

No. 3: Jauan Jennings is resilient

As previously mentioned, Jennings is no stranger to controversy.

While Tennessee recruited him as a dual-threat quarterback, he eventually transitioned to a wide receiver with guidance from his coach. Things got dicey when Jennings was denied the opportunity to go back under center, though.

Jennings took to social media to vent his frustrations, and in 2017 he got kicked off the team as a result. With a new head coach at the helm in Jeremy Pruitt, Jennings found an opportunity to rejoin the team. He worked his back only to be sidelined by an injury.

A year later, all of the cards were coming up for Jennings until an incident occurred in the 2019 season finale against a helmetless Vanderbilt player. Consequently, Jennings got suspended from the entire first half of the Gator Bowl versus Indiana.

Further complicating matters after college, Jennings’ NFL Draft stock slipped with a poor showing at the NFL Combine in 2020, particularly his 4.72 40-yard time. Nevertheless, this young man persisted and was eventually taken by the 49ers late in the draft.

No. 2: Jauan Jennings and the Hail Mary in Athens

Jennings is an incredible athlete. He had the chance to showcase his talent in one of the biggest stages of his collegiate career as a sophomore against a bitter rival.

In a dramatic finish, Jennings caught a hotly contested 43-yard Hail Mary touchdown in the end zone as time expired:

The win erased a 10-year drought for UT against Georgia, and Jennings was carried off the field as a hero.

No. 1: 49ers’ newest receiver’s character is that of an authentic Volunteer

Jennings’ talent is unquestionable. And so are his passion for service and love for the community.

After a tornado swept across Tennessee in March 2020, Jennings took it upon himself and turned his jersey autograph session into a donation location to aid those affected by the disaster.

This type of character, activism, and athleticism belong on roster.

The 49ers are loaded with wide receiver options, so Jennings will have to fight for it. It’s a good thing he comes from a place where, in his words, “…nothing is given, and everything is earned.”