Niners’ Patience With Smelter Could Pay Huge Dividends
When the 49ers report for training camp in late July, most rookies will be eager to compete for a roster spot in September.DeAndre Smelter, however, is looking to the future. This year, he's likely to be a bystander, recovering from injury, learning and preparing to make his mark when he gets his chance. Smelter, a 6-foot-2, 226-pound wide receiver from Georgia Tech, tore his ACL last December, ending his college career. Still, the 49ers like his potential so much that they used a fourth-round pick on him.At Georgia Tech, Smelter was a big, physical target. He had 56 catches over two seasons for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns He averaged a whopping 18.9 yards per reception.Niners general manager Trent Baalke believes Smelter could be a player with big upside. He noted that Smelter is big, tough, has long arms and amazing pass-catching mitts."He's got huge hands," Baalke told Bay Area reporters. "Size 11 hands." That's 3½ inches more than the average adult male hand size of 7½ inches.NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said recently that he believes that the 49ers may be well rewarded for their patience. He said Smelter could be a star once he gets back on the field."I...
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