NFL draft visits: 49ers defensive assistant Aubrayo Franklin attends ends Stanford Pro Day

The San Francisco 49ers added a familiar face to the coaching staff this offseason, hiring Aubrayo Franklin into a defensive assistant role. Franklin wrapped up his NFL career recently, and this marks his first foray into coaching. Franklin was a defensive tackle, benefitting tremendously from the Vic Fangio coordinated, Jim Tomsula coached defensive line. Franklin was franchised by the 49ers one season, earned a nice little deal from the New Orleans Saints after that, and sort of disappeared once he departed the 49ers.

Franklin spent Wednesday at the Stanford Pro Day, according to Matt Barrows. Stanford is right around the corner from the 49ers Santa Clara facility, so this does not exactly tip the 49ers hand toooooooo much. It makes sense to get Franklin out to a local Pro Day. While an assistant does plenty with getting ready for the upcoming season, they are frequently sent out during draft preparations. Some of the 49ers assistants were in Indianapolis last month for the NFL Combine, and plenty will spend time this month at the many Pro Days around the country. The 49ers have only so many scouts and personnel guys, and assistants can take a look at the nitty gritty specific to their position.

Speaking of Barrows, he had a rundown of some defensive prospects with which the 49ers have met the last couple weeks. I'll separate them out a little more later with a collection of scouting reports, but the group includes Arizona State defensive lineman Marcus Hardison, and edge rushers Bud Dupree (Kentucky), Zack Wagenmann (Montana), and Randy Gregory (Nebraska).