5 draft prospects who entice 49ers at 2022 NFL Scouting Combine
By Peter Panacy
Cornerback. Houston. 3. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Marcus Jones. 450
49ers NFL Combine prospect to watch No. 3: CB Marcus Jones, Houston
Going back to the cornerback theme here for a moment, it might be wise for the Niners to finally bid farewell to K’Waun Williams, who will turn 31 years old by the time the regular season commences.
That’ll leave a void at nickel back, one which San Francisco will want to fill.
Additionally, the 49ers’ return game on special teams hasn’t exactly had a bona fide option in recent years, so a player like Houston cornerback Marcus Jones could easily check off two key boxes.
Jones’ 5-foot-8 frame is undersized, but it’s important to note Williams thrived at only 5-foot-9.
However, it’s Jones’ contributions in the return game that should entice the 49ers:
| Kick Ret | Punt Ret | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2017 | Troy | Sun Belt | FR | CB | 13 | 30 | 879 | 29.3 | 3 | 14 | 121 | 8.6 | 0 |
| *2018 | Troy | Sun Belt | SO | CB | 11 | 23 | 584 | 25.4 | 1 | 6 | 49 | 8.2 | 0 |
| *2020 | Houston | American | JR | CB | 7 | 5 | 102 | 20.4 | 0 | 17 | 337 | 19.8 | 1 |
| *2021 | Houston | American | SR | CB | 13 | 15 | 510 | 34.0 | 2 | 26 | 374 | 14.4 | 2 |
| Career | Overall | 73 | 2075 | 28.4 | 6 | 63 | 881 | 14.0 | 3 | ||||
| Troy | 53 | 1463 | 27.6 | 4 | 20 | 170 | 8.5 | 0 | |||||
| Houston | 20 | 612 | 30.6 | 2 | 43 | 711 | 16.5 | 3 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 2/25/2022.
Jones could easily run a 4.40 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine, and a team like the Niners will want to see that blazing-fast speed, going along with what he can do in the vertical leap to see whether or not his size will work against him on the defensive side of the ball.
If Jones impresses enough, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him slip into the back end of day two.