SF 49ers: 3 under-radar second-year players to watch in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: SF 49ers Wide Receiver Jauan Jennings
Despite an awfully slow 40-yard time at last year’s NFL Scouting Combine, wide receiver Jauan Jennings was considered quite the steal by San Francisco in Round 7 of last year’s NFL Draft.
In truth, speed was never a part of Jennings’ game at Tennessee. Instead, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver used his physicality and strength, breaking 30 tackles out of his 59 receptions his final collegiate year.
Unfortunately for Jennings and his fan hopefuls, a lackluster training camp ultimately resulted in him landing with the practice squad, where he stayed throughout the rest of his rookie year.
Yet the SF 49ers could have some receiving-depth questions this offseason, particularly with wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Trent Taylor being unrestricted free agents and third-year pro Jalen Hurd never yet having stepped foot on the field for a regular-season game because of serious injuries.
It’s still unclear whether or not Jennings can acclimate to the rigors of the NFL game, although he probably would have benefited from a normal offseason without the confines of the pandemic.
Should the Niners’ 2021 offseason program progress as it otherwise normally would, Jennings could stand to benefit and may finally emerge as that physical threat San Francisco wanted him to be.