49ers training camp: 10 players who’ll impress most in 2020

No. 7: A 49ers cornerback controversy, Part 2

The cornerback battle will be, without doubt, the training camp battle everyone has their eyes on. San Francisco’s secondary has been seen as the weakness of the team, with the defensive line and pass rush covering up the defense’s “weakness”.

The man who started off last season with the starting job opposite Richard Sherman and aiming to get his starting place back, after being benched in the divisional round by Emmanuel Moseley, is… Ahkello Witherspoon.

Witherspoon started the first three games of the 2019 season and excelled against the dynamic duo of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers he faced in Week 1, namely Mike Evans. Witherspoon had by far the best game of his career when he took advantage of a terrible throw from the opponent’s quarterback, Jameis Winston, to record his first career pick-six. Witherspoon also recorded a career-high three passes defended.

Witherspoon was then injured in Week 3 through to, and including Week 10, started in Week 13 until the end of the season but was benched in the second half of the Week 17 game. And even though he started in the divisional round, Witherspoon was soon benched again, losing his place to Moseley.

There are rumors, and so far they are just rumors, Witherspoon has grown a bit but also put on muscle. If this is the case, look out for a stronger Witherspoon to light up training camp with some lights-out play.