Niner Noise
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5 sleeper draft prospects 49ers must watch closely at NFL Combine

By Jeremy Wohlfart

Tycen Anderson #40 of Toledo runs the 40 yard dash during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Tycen Anderson #40 of Toledo runs the 40 yard dash during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) /
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Dante Stills, West Virginia Mountaineers
Dante Stills, West Virginia Mountaineers (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

49ers Prospect No. 4: Dante Stills, Defensive Tackle, West Virginia

Javon Kinlaw will probably be on the team for one more season, but 49ers fans shouldn’t depend on him to finally break out after so long. The team needs some help on the interior next to Arik Armstead, and the slightly undersized Dante Stills is an intriguing mid-round prospect who can put pressure on the quarterback.

In 2023, Still recorded 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a tipped pass for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He showed excellent ability to get into the backfield, recording 53 tackles for loss throughout his collegiate career.

Stills plays with a relentless motor, often getting past defenders with a sheer force of will. His quickness and relatively short stature at 6-foot-4 allow him to squeeze through blockers and attack the quarterback or ball carrier.

In the NFL, Stills will be unlikely to handle all three downs, but he could be a valuable rotational piece who goes onto the field on obvious passing situations. The Niners would love to add some more presence on third downs, and Stills looks like he could be a good value selection on Day 3 if he impresses at the NFL Scouting Combine.