2011 NFL Draft Results: 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh And Stanford

by David Fucillo on May 8, 2011 6:00 AM PDT in NFL Draft

As the 2011 NFL Draft moved along last weekend, I think most of us figured 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh would draft at least one guy from Stanford. In the post-draft press conference, Coach Harbaugh indicated the team had wanted to grab Owen Marecic but the situation never completely presented itself. Instead, the closest the 49ers came to drafting somebody even from the Bay Area was Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick.

Here is a rundown of the Stanford guys picked in the 2011 NFL Draft:

Sion Fua, DT - Round 3, Pick 97
Owen Marecic, FB - Rd 4, Pk 124
Richard Sherman, DB - Rd 5, Pk 154
Ryan Whalen, WR - Rd 6, Pk 167

I wouldn't be surprised if the 49ers brought in some Stanford guys as undrafted free agents. After the jump I've posted a quick rundown of the Stanford players drafted and those still remaining as undrafted free agents.

In looking at the positions of the four players drafted, the only position the 49ers didn't address was defensive tackle. The 49ers have Ricky Jean-Francois under contract, are likely going to try and work out a long term contract with Aubrayo Franklin, and also have Isaac Sopoaga as an emergency fill-in. My guess is that the team was sufficiently happy at the nose tackle position and viewed Fua as too much of a luxury.

The team wanted Marecic but it just didn't happen. It's a shame as the team tries to figure out its long-term answer at fullback, but sometimes things just don't work out the way you want. Let's hope Bruce Miller figures out the fullback position, or the team finds an answer in free agency.

I think a lot of folks here were interested in Richard Sherman, but in seeing him mocked out, Sherman was going in the sixth and seventh rounds. After the 49ers grabbed Culliver in the third round, they grabbed safety Colin Jones in the sixth round and Curtis Holcomb in the seventh round. I find myself thinking that if Sherman had dropped into the sixth round, the 49ers would have pulled the trigger on him. It's pure speculation on my part, but it's what I'm thinking for now.

As for Whalen, I think once the 49ers grabbed Ronald Johnson in the fifth they felt they had done what they needed for the wide receiver position in this draft. It's not much more complicated than that in my head.

I don't know if that sufficiently answers this question for folks. And maybe some people weren't really concerned one way or the other about it. I was a little surprised, but in looking at each position, I suppose it's not really a big shocker. Do any of the available Stanford Cardinal football players jump out to folks as worthwhile undrafted free agents?

Stanford
ALL PLAYERS	RD	PK(OVR)	DRAFTED BY	POS	HT	WT	GRADE	POS	OVR
Owen Marecic	4	27(124)	Cleveland Browns	FB	6'0½"	248	51	3	187
Ryan Whalen	6	2(167)	Cincinnati Bengals	WR	6'1⅛"	202	45	27	215
Sione Fua	3	33(97)	Carolina Panthers	DT	6'1½"	308	35	22	274
Chase Beeler				OC	6'2½"	273	30	12
Nate Whitaker				PK	5'8½"	187	30	17
Konrad Reuland				TE	6'4½"	258	30	27
Thomas Keiser				OLB	6'5"	257	30	34
Richard Sherman	5	23(154)	Seattle Seahawks	CB	6'2⅝"	195	30	38
Derek Hall				OT	6'4¾"	306	30	38
Andrew Phillips				OG	6'3½"	303	30	53
Chike Amajoyi				OLB	5'11"	233	30	69
Doug Baldwin				WR	5'9¾"	192	30	109

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Comments

Some of the available Stanford Cardinal football players look worthwhile. Undrafted Free Agents are nice to have expendable bodies in camp.

Some players who are worth the approximate $50K price tag, and that are mostly from the west, some who were top-rated, include the following:

QB: Pat Devlin (Delaware), Mitch Mustain (USC)
RB: Nic Grigsby (AZ), Derrick Locke (Kentucky)
OC: Kris O’Dowd (USC), Zane Taylor (Utah), and Chase Beeler (Stanford)
OG: Andrew Phillips (Stanford), Butch Lewis (USC)
OT: Derek Hall (Stanford), Bo Thran (Oregon)
WR: Jeff Maehl (Oregon), Dane Sanzenbacher (Ohio State)
NT: Ian Williams (Notre Dame), Sealver Siliga (Utah)
DE: Brandon Bair (Oregon), Ryan Winterswyk (Boise State), and Tom Keiser (Stanford)
ILB: Mario Harvey (Marshall), Josh Bynes (Auburn)
OLB: Thomas Keiser (Stanford), Michael Morgan (USC), Kenny Rowe (Oregon)
CB: Devon Torrence (Ohio State), Kevin Rutland (Missouri)
FS: Deunta Williams (North Carolina), Jerrard Tarrant (Georgia Tech)
SS: Jeron Johnson (Boise State), Nate Williams (Washington)

by Rocket0348 on May 8, 2011 8:47 AM PDT reply actions

PAT DEVLIN IS A MUST! =P

"Winning means being unafraid to lose." – Fran Tarkenton

by Nelow on May 8, 2011 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Waste of time.

by Ougadas on May 8, 2011 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Devlin would end up on practice squad

Reminds me a little of Shaun Hill. Not strong armed but can lead receivers for run after catch.

by wtlichens on May 8, 2011 6:35 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

If that's all he's good for

I am also available.

And I’ll even show up on time.

by Ougadas on May 9, 2011 2:24 AM PDT up reply actions

LOL

“We” should hire ya as LB/FB/QB huh? Did you say you played the first two positions? :-)

by ChesapeakeBay9er on May 9, 2011 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep

I liked hitting people. =)

Long time ago though. I tried QB but couldn’t do it. Had the head to read the defense, but didn’t have the arm to make the throws. But if all I had to do was hit 5-10 yard passes between the hashes — maybe we have a career resurgence. =)

by Ougadas on May 10, 2011 12:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Maehl is in the UFL now

If we get a UDFA QB it looks like it’s going to be Froman. That’s what the winds are saying.
NT I’d put Blaine [Can’t remember his last name at the moment] – Put him on PS and see what happens.
WR my guys I like are Ricardo Lockette and Terrence Tolliver.
CB why is no one mentioning Davon House?
Oh and Locke (and Mario Fannin) are in the UFL now too.
Link as far as UFL: http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/5/2/2150483/mark-herzlich-jerrod-johnson-jeremiah-masoli-taken-in-ufl-draft

by ChesapeakeBay9er on May 9, 2011 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

why is no one mentioning Davon House?

Most of us just assume the Packers won’t let us sign him, considering they spent a fourth round pick on him.

We don't need 8 in the box. We have 52 in the box.

by these3words on May 9, 2011 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

oc = center?

bc i always thought the defensive center was just nt

but if beeler is that guy out of nebraska, i want him to try to make it on the team. he’s a good player.

by whanson on May 8, 2011 9:16 AM PDT reply actions

oklahoma

whatever, we should see him in training camp. that’ll be october, right?

by whanson on May 8, 2011 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions

OC=Center...NT=DT

NT is a DT but in the 3-4 defensive scheme.

OC is used to differentiate.

by Rocket0348 on May 8, 2011 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

NT and DT are not the same.

Different players, different techniques, different position.

OC is not used to differentiate because there is nothing to differentiate it from.

TE, OT, OG, C are the abbreviations for the offensive line positions. Some people are uncomfortable not putting an O on the C. That’s it.

by Ougadas on May 8, 2011 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

You forgot LS

Brian Jennings dissaproves.

by Mindless on May 9, 2011 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions

If you have ever followed Stanford football, this is a really amazing story!!

First, for Stanford to have four players drafted in any rounds was quite an accomplishment. But then, look at how it happened … Fua was drafted 4 rounds (177 picks) sooner than anticipated, Sherman 3 rounds (96 picks) sooner, Marecic 2 rounds (63 picks) sooner, and even Whalen was drafted 1.5 rounds (48 picks) sooner than anticipated. I think that this surprised everybody … including Baalke and Harbaugh.

If the truth be told, I’d be willing to bet that the Niners brass was looking to draft not only Marecic, but Fua and Sherman as well. Who could have predicted that any of them would have been selected as early as they were?

Although I wouldn’t expect them to make the final roster, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Baldwin, Beeler, Kaiser and Phillips in the Niners training camp … that is, assuming that we actually have a training camp this year.

by 49erFanSince1950 on May 8, 2011 10:25 AM PDT reply actions

I tend to agree with you, but Fua was projected to go anywhere 3-5.

by MinerNiner on May 8, 2011 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions

please pick up M Harvey and T Tolliver

we will be sorry if we don’t…tolliver is a gamer and will torch whatever secondary he is opposing and Harvey will come in as an immediate special teamer and could work his way into the LB rotation

by texasniner06 on May 8, 2011 10:54 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

I think were going to need another FB

not because Miller busts, but because he will become one of our best pass rushers. This guy’s an animal and is going to surprise to a lot of people!

by mensa on May 8, 2011 11:18 AM PDT reply actions

Miller was under-rated in the draft!

Totally agree. He will become a great rushing OLB when he gets a try at that position. His stats and awards are extremely impressive.

by Rocket0348 on May 8, 2011 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

I loved that pick when the 49ers made it. I remember how productive he was in college

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis, as stated by Scarlett Johansson. I couldn't agree more. Reverse would be true too!!!!

by nocal81(Vincent) on May 8, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

ESPN had him as a 5th round prospect

Just noting that because I went there to look up his size and noticed it. Was a bit (and pleasantly) surprised.

by ChesapeakeBay9er on May 9, 2011 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Byham and/or Dixon can do it..worst case scenario

I really think that Roman and JH use him a bit more this year in a few different “positions” have him be an H-Back/Fullback/TE kind of guy.

by ChesapeakeBay9er on May 9, 2011 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Chase Beeler

would have been better value with the 49ers last comp pick instead of trading up for Kilgore in the 5th round. Hindsight is 20/20, but I would have preferred the 49ers to with Beeler or O’Dowd in the 7th and focused on corner in the 5th; there were nice options there.

Chykie Brown, Bryon Maxwell, Chris Rucker, Justin Rogers and Kory Lindsey. That said, I do think that Kilgore is going to be a solid NFL starting center.

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis, as stated by Scarlett Johansson. I couldn't agree more. Reverse would be true too!!!!

by nocal81(Vincent) on May 8, 2011 11:58 AM PDT reply actions

Not disagreeing with you at all feel

but can you elucidate on why you “that Kilgore is going to be a solid NFL starting center.”?

by ChesapeakeBay9er on May 9, 2011 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Both Beeler and O'Dowd will be available to us as UFAs.

by 49erFanSince1950 on May 8, 2011 1:05 PM PDT reply actions

Safety Support

I was surprised that FS Deunta Williams and Jerrard Tarrant were not picked up. Also SS Jeron Johnson and Nate Williams.

by Rocket0348 on May 8, 2011 1:26 PM PDT reply actions

Keiser, Rueland, Hall, and Phillips all have a good chance to end up in camp

By drafting two lineman, Baalke and Harbaugh are probably prepared to replace Chilo Rachel at guard; and Hall and Phillips are likely candidates to provide extra competition. Byham’s been a pleasant surprise, and under Harbaugh, his blocking would still make him a servicable third TE. Still, TE is going to be a loaded position in camp, and Rueland is another likely candidate to be signed.

by MinerNiner on May 8, 2011 1:27 PM PDT reply actions

Nines should have traded back instead of picking Culliver in third

and picked Sherman (and probably Culliver with one of the trade picks) in the fifth.

Keiser, Whitaker, Baldwin and Beeler would be good as UDFAs.

by Mood_Indigo on May 8, 2011 10:20 PM PDT reply actions

They reached for Culliver

but thought they could wait til the 5th round for a guy like Marecic? Scratching my head on that idea…. Anyways, 49ers should def take a look at all the Offensive lines from Stanford

SF 49ers. SF Giants. SJ Sharks. CHI Bulls.

by Giants49war on May 9, 2011 1:20 AM PDT reply actions

Meh

Harbaugh did a great job with what he had to work with at Stanford.

I just don’t see him limiting himself to the small pool of talent that is California when he has the whole country to recruit from as soon as the lockout ends.

by Ougadas on May 9, 2011 2:35 AM PDT reply actions