The folks at NFL.com put together a rundown of the best players under the age of 25, and the 49ers own Eric Reid made it on the list. The 49ers free safety turned 22 in December, so he's on the young side for the list.
No other 49ers player made the roster, although I think a couple had to be in the running. I've posted a list below of every 49ers player under the age of 25, in order of position. I believe it includes some guys that will turn 25 before Week 1 of the coming season, so they won't count. however, a couple guys worth noting that don't turn 25 until after the season starts are Aldon Smith and Anthony Davis.
The 49ers signed Davis to a long-term deal last April, locking him up through 2019. Aldon Smith is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal. The 49ers can exercise a fifth-year option between now and May, which would buy them some extra time to work out a contract extension.
In looking through the rest of the under-25 crowd, a few of them could develop into serious playmakers. Of course, Marcus Lattimore is the first to jump out at us. Quinton Patton is on our radar as well, and is likely going to get a big opportunity in 2014. Vance McDonald will look to build on an up and down rookie season. Joe Looney has a chance to earn an important reserve role, and could get a shot at the starting center job as well.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tank Carradine actually turns 25 early this next week. It's interesting to see the ages of some of these players. Carradine is 25 and only just now getting his first real opportunity in the NFL. Anthony Davis is 24, and already has four years under his belt.
Darryl Morris is one of the more notable young guys to watch. He focused on special teams in 2013, but could be looking at a significant chance in 2014. The 49ers could lose two significant cornerbacks, with Tarell Brown entering free agency, and Carlos Rogers a potential cap casualty. The team is likely going to be drafting at least one cornerback, but Morris could find himself right in the mix for defensive playing time.
NAME | POS. | AGE | EXP. |
Lattimore, Marcus | RB | 22 | R |
Hampton, Jewel | RB | 24 | 2 |
James, LaMichael | RB | 24 | 2 |
Debniak, Alex | FB | 24 | R |
Jacobs, Chuck | WR | 23 | R |
Patton, Quinton | WR | 23 | R |
Baldwin, Jon | WR | 24 | 3 |
Carswell, Brandon | WR | 24 | 1 |
Carrier, Derek | TE | 23 | 1 |
McDonald, Vance | TE | 23 | R |
Bykowski, Carter | T | 23 | R |
Marquardt, Luke | T | 23 | R |
Davis, Anthony | T | 24 | 4 |
Looney, Joe | G | 23 | 2 |
Netter, Al | G | 24 | 1 |
Seymour, Ryan | G | 24 | 0 |
Okoye, Lawrence | DL | 22 | R |
Dial, Quinton | DL | 23 | R |
Purcell, Mike | DT | 22 | R |
Jerod-Eddie, Tony | DT | 23 | 2 |
Carradine, Tank | DT | 24 | R |
Tupou, Christian | DT | 24 | 0 |
Williams, Ian | NT | 24 | 3 |
Lemonier, Corey | LB | 22 | R |
Fleming, Darius | LB | 24 | 2 |
Moody, Nick | LB | 24 | R |
Smith, Aldon | LB | 24 | 3 |
Swanson, Dax | CB | 22 | R |
Morris, Darryl | CB | 23 | R |
Reid, Eric | S | 22 | R |
Campbell, D.J. | S | 24 | 2 |
Schmidt, Colton | P | 23 | R |
McDermott, Kevin | LS | 24 | R |