SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The choice by the San Francisco 49ers to draft De’Zhaun Stribling with the primary decide of the second spherical in April raised some eyebrows with extra achieved school receivers nonetheless on the board.
The best way Stribling has carried out to date in observe and his exhibition debut have quieted these criticisms for now. Stribling caught seven passes for 63 yards in lower than one half on Thursday night time in opposition to Tennessee, outplaying the highest receiver taken on this 12 months’s draft in No. 4 total decide Carnell Tate.
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Stribling is nicely conscious of the 5 receivers drafted forward of him, however is extra targeted on his personal play to date this summer time as he hopes to play a giant function for the 49ers as a rookie.
“I do know who was taken forward of me, however I simply see it as that is my journey,” Stribling mentioned after the sport. “My journey is my journey. I am not going to have a look at another person’s journey, As a result of as soon as I try this, I am not going to be grateful or joyful of the place I am at. So I am simply making essentially the most out of my alternatives and what’s given to me.”
Stribling caught a cross on his first snap in an exhibition recreation with a 6-yarder from Kurtis Rourke. He could not catch a barely off-target throw on third down later in that drive and likewise misplaced 5 yards on a pop cross.
However he took over the sport from there, catching all 5 targets on his closing two drives, together with a formidable contested catch on a 32-yard deep cross down the sideline and an 11-yard catch-and-run on third-and-6 when he broke a deal with and managed to remain inbounds to assist arrange a landing.
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“I used to be just a bit excited, just a little nervous,” Stribling mentioned. “However type of getting the primary hit out the way in which, the primary catch out the way in which, you begin getting right into a groove and the whole lot begins rolling.”
Stribling spent his first two seasons in school at Washington State and the following two at Oklahoma State earlier than becoming a member of Ole Miss final season. He had 55 catches for 811 yards and 6 TDs to assist the Rebels attain the semifinals of the School Soccer Playoff.
However the Niners thought extremely sufficient of him to draft him thirty third total. Stribling has proven capability in observe to create separation together with his fingers to associate with his spectacular velocity.
“I name him the ‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’ as a result of he is so quick,” backup quarterback Mac Jones mentioned. “However he positively is quick, however some guys, they are often actually fast, however they are not as robust, so he has each. I haven’t got a comp for him but, however I believe he’ll be a very good participant. … Simply the way in which he received to the ball when it is within the air was spectacular. He has like a second gear when the ball’s within the air. Some guys are actually quick, however when the ball goes up and your eyes go up, you decelerate, however he does not try this, so it is fairly spectacular.”
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Stribling has been one of many vivid spots early in coaching camp for San Francisco, making huge performs virtually day-after-day and constructing chemistry together with his quarterbacks, together with starter Brock Purdy.
Stribling received proper to work after being drafted and even joined Purdy and Jones in Tennessee throughout the break earlier than coaching camp to rise up to hurry and earn belief from his new quarterbacks.
The Niners are hoping to get a right away contribution from Stribling, particularly after dropping projected starter Ricky Pearsall to season-ending knee surgical procedure early in coaching camp.
San Francisco signed Mike Evans in free company in March and introduced again Deebo Samuel for a second stint early in camp, however the hope is that Stribling will have the ability to step proper into the rotation.
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He has proven indicators in coaching camp of with the ability to try this although he missed a few practices with a good hamstring.
“He is dealing with it nicely,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned after the sport. “It was robust when he received harm. He missed that week. Now he is been again for every week. Hopefully he can string collectively two extra of those weeks, as a result of he is going about it the suitable approach and so long as he will get these reps and continues to do what he is been doing, he ought to be prepared for the season.”
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