The NFL Combine is nearly upon us, and many of college football's biggest names will be in attendance. Commonly referred to as the Underwear Olympics, barring a completely abysmal showing, the pageant won't make much of a difference for the top prospects.
But for the small-school guys, it's a chance to show that they have the athleticism to compete.
With a trio of comp picks, the San Francisco 49ers will have some extra bites at the apple in the mid-to-late rounds, where some of these youngsters can shine.
As a result, John Lynch and Co. will be paying close attention. Some of these kids have posted eye-popping numbers, and if the athletic testing holds up against NFL standards, there could be a few diamonds in the rough.
The Niners have a lot of needs, and of course, depth is always required. Addressing the pass rush, both in terms of high-end impact and rotational specialists, will be an offseason key. So, too, will be adding playmakers to the wide receiver room.
Beyond that, finding value, wherever that may be, will also be a priority.
To that end, there are four small-school prospects whom San Francisco should be paying attention to once things kick off in Indianapolis on Feb. 23.
4 small-school prospects whom 49ers should watch during NFL Combine
WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State
Ted Hurst has been called the "quintessential Shanahan receiver" thanks to his fluidity and incredible change-of-direction abilities, which help him both separate and rack up yards after the catch. At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, he also has decent size for the position, even if he could stand to bulk up a bit.
His 71 catches for 1,004 yards are attention-grabbing, but the Sun Belt competition isn't the best. He took on a couple of SEC powerhouses last season, with mixed results. Ole Miss stonewalled him, allowing just one catch for 6 yards. However, against Vanderbilt, he posted seven receptions for 71 yards in a 70-21 shellacking.
What his speed and vertical look like will be crucial in determining if he's worth a mid-round selection.
WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Bryce Lance is the younger brother of epic Niners bust Trey Lance, so if you'd prefer to stop reading, we won't blame you. However, Lynch can't afford to hold a grudge, and he should give the younger Lance brother a serious once-over.
At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, he certainly has ideal size for an NFL wideout. His 2024 season saw him catch 75 balls for 1,071 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns. His 2025 follow-up featured 51 catches, 1,079 yards, and eight touchdowns.
DL Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
Another FCS product, defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor, might not solve San Francisco's issues on the edge, but as a rotational three-technique pass-rush specialist, he could make some sense. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, he's designed to get upfield fast. That's exactly what he did en route to winning the SLC Defensive Player of the Year award.
Proctor posted 4.5 sacks and six tackles for loss as a junior in 2024, and upped his game further this past season with nine sacks and 13 TFL.
Scouts note that he has a good initial burst, violent hands, and a varied repertoire of pass-rush moves, but we'll need to see if he has the strength to hold up in the NFL.
RB/WR Eli Heidenreich, Navy
Give Kyle Shanahan a versatile chess piece, and he'll find a way to put him in advantageous positions.
That's exactly what Navy's Eli Heidenreich is.
Some have compared him to a poor man's Christian McCaffrey because of his rushing and receiving prowess, but it's not hard to see more Deebo Samuel influence in his game.
Heidenreich's senior season included 77 rushes for 499 yards and 51 catches for 941 yards. His 18.5 yards per catch showed that he can break the game open in the passing game. His highlight as a receiver came against Air Force (ironically) when he caught eight passes for a whopping 243 yards and three touchdowns. However, his biggest challenge came against Notre Dame, and against the Golden Domers, he was held to just one 15-yard rush and two catches for 20 yards.
His athletic testing will go a long way to determining if he has a future, but if he tests well, the idea of adding him as a gadget player for Shanahan to play with is tantalizing.