49ers sign 2 rookie minicamp tryout candidates to roster

The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up their rookie/first year player minicamp on Monday, and they have added two players to the roster. The team brought in ten tryout candidates over the weekend, including six defensive backs and four offensive linemen. After three days of practice, the team has signed Michigan State defensive back Mylan Hicks and Miami (FL) offensive tackle Justin Renfrow.

Hicks finished up his career at Michigan State this past fall playing linebacker. He played cornerback his redshirt freshman year, then moved to safety for his sophomore and junior seasons. He switched to linebacker as a senior. At this Pro Day he measured in at 5'10 190 pounds, so it is highly unlikely he will play linebacker at the NFL level. He is listed as a defensive back on the NFL transaction wire, and safety seems a strong possibility for him.

From the 49ers press release:

Hicks (5-11, 197) is an undrafted rookie out of Michigan State University. He saw action in 32 games for the Spartans, including nine games in 2014, when he registered a career-high 19 tackles, four passes defensed and one sack last season. While at MSU, Hicks spent time at cornerback, safety and linebacker, finishing his career with 27 tackles, four passes defensed and one sack.

A 22-year-old native of Detroit, MI, Hicks attended Renaissance (Detroit, MI) High School, where he registered 44 tackles and four interceptions as a senior cornerback for the Phoenix.

Renfrow was a defensive lineman in college, but scouting reports indicate his best bet for the future is as an offensive line prospect. He went undrafted in 2014, and subsequently signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He was released on August 25, and spent some time in the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL). The Green Bay Packers signed him to their practice squad in late November. He was later released by the Packers, and signed with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad. He signed a reserve/futures contract following the season, but was subsequently released. He got some time at their rookie minicamp, but it was not enough to stick around. He now gets a chance to compete in 49ers OTAs, minicamp and potentially training camp. His best opportunity is likely the practice squad.

From the 49ers press release:

Renfrow (6-6, 310) originally signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 12, 2014. He was waived by the Cardinals on August 25, 2014, and later added to the Green Bay Packers practice squad on November 24, 2014, before being released on December 29, 2014. He was then added to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on January 1, 2015, where he spent the remainder of the season. Renfrow was signed to a Reserve/Future contract with the Seahawks on February 4, 2015, and was later released on May 5, 2015.

A 25-year-old native of Morrisville, PA, Renfrow transferred to the University of Miami for his senior season following four years at the University of Virginia (redshirted as a freshman in 2009). As a senior in 2013, he recorded a career-high 36 tackles, two passes defensed and one forced fumble in 13 games played (four starts) along the defensive line. Renfrow appeared in 22 games at Virginia and registered 18 tackles and one pass defensed. He prepped at William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, PA.