/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/10466581/gyi0061808094.0.jpg)
Today's pro days include: Connecticut, LSU, South Carolina, SMU, and USC.
There are plenty of fan favorites and mid-to-late round possibilities for the 49ers to keep an eye on today. Here are a few they could be targeting:
Trevardo Williams, OLB, UCONN: Williams is a tweener pass rush specialist that is too small for a traditional 4-3 scheme and too inexperienced to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 from day one. At 6-1, 241 lbs Williams possesses excellent speed and burst off the line. He tallied 30 career sacks at Connecticut, including 24 over the last two seasons. He'll benefit most from an environment in which he can be a situational pass rusher while learning how to play the outside linebacker position.
Tyrann Mathieu, CB LSU: Mathieu has quickly become a fan favorite on Niners Nation. Once projected as a late round flier, Mathieu has impressed scouts enough in interviews to see his stock rise to a likely second to fourth round draft selection. Mathieu didn't have an overly impressive combine performance, which I expected, given his year away from football.
Still, he showed up in great shape and has plenty of impressive film to rely on. Mathieu will be looking to improve on his 4.5 forty time from February. Should he succeed, those that have yet to board the hype train probably will. In any other draft, in any other situation, I'd hope the Niners would avoid a short corner with off the field baggage. However, given the number of picks and solid depth at corner, he's worth a shot in the late third or fourth round. See Mathieu's prospect profile here.
Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina: Another fan favorite on Niners Nation, Lattimore is coming off one of the more gruesome knee injuries in recent memory. Lattimore dislocated his knee and tore several ligaments in a game last October versus Tennessee. He maintains he'll be ready to play this fall, but to what capacity remains to be seen. As in Tyrann Mathieu's case, Lattimore has enough outstanding film to prove his level of skill. The biggest question mark, obviously, will be his ability to return to the form that saw him lead the SEC in rushing when healthy. He's coming off two straight seasons during which he suffered season-ending knee injuries, so he'll need to work hard and have solid doctor reviews to avoid the ‘injury-prone' label.
While Lattimore is still about a month away from running full speed, he does plan on working out during South Carolina's pro day today. He'll likely catch some passes and lift weights. It will be a big step in his road to recovery. It goes without saying that whichever team drafts him in the middle rounds will be thinking value and upside—he offers more of both than any prospect outside of the first round.
Margus Hunt, DE, SMU: Before playing a down of professional football, Hunt already feels like a legend. The 6-8, 277lb lineman from Estonia earned the number one spot of Bruce Feldman's Annual "Freak List" in 2012. Hunt's size and speed (4.60 forty) have scouts drooling over his potential. He'd surely fit nicely into the Niners 3-4 defense and could be groomed as the potential replacement to Justin Smith. He even excels at special teams, blocking 17 total kicks during his four-year career, just two short of an NCAA record.
There isn't much Hunt can do during his pro day to impress more. His biggest downfall cannot be fixed. Hunt is already 25 years old and still learning the game. He'll have substantial expectations of him wherever he goes given his reputation. At 25, he may just be mature enough to handle them. See Hunt's prospect profile here.
T.J. McDonald, FS, USC: The son of former 49ers Pro Bowl Safety Tim McDonald, Tim, Jr. (T.J.) will be looking to add to an already rich family history. McDonald arrived at USC as a high school All-American but never truly lived up to the expectations. McDonald is a big hitting safety that needs to improve his coverage skills.
With prototypical size (6-2, 219lbs), McDonald figures to benefit more from a scheme that will allow him to play close to the box or underneath coverages, rather than deep in center field. He performed well at the combine with a 40" vertical and 131" broad jump, although, he'll be looking to improve on his 4.59 forty time. McDonald figures to be a mid to late round pick and could provide the Niners with ‘bloodline' depth.