Jauan Jennings' 6-foot-3 and 215-pound frame immediately make him one of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's bigger receiving targets. The San Francisco 49ers used their final draft pick, No. 217 overall in the seventh round, to select the Tennessee receiver.
Jennings was the Volunteers' team MVP and captain during his senior year and went on to haul in a career-high 59 passes for 969 yards with eight trips into the end zone. It's Jennings' size and physicality that initially drew general manager John Lynch, head coach Kyle Shanahan, and receivers coach Wes Welker to him.
"He loves the game," Lynch told team reporter Keiana Martin. "Oftentimes, you have to talk with players, and all that, and really get to know them, which we did. Wes Welker did a tremendous job really getting into who Jauan was.
"But all you've got to do, in terms of a football player, is turn on the tape. I mean, he plays with a passion that was at the top of the draft class. I mean, he plays with a ferocity; kind of my style. I think he can play safety. I really do."
Added Lynch: "Here's a guy who plays with elite physicality. He runs hot. He plays with passion. He does everything with passion. We like those kinds of guys, the competitive greatness."
That doesn't mean the selection doesn't come with some risk. Tennessee temporarily dismissed Jennings in 2017 when he publicly criticized his coaching staff on social media. The SEC suspended him for half of this year's Gator Bowl following an altercation with a Vanderbilt player. He was flagged for a flagrant personal foul following the incident. The receiver was accused of stepping on that player's head — an event that Jennings denied was intentional.
Jennings spoke with reporters via a video conference call on Saturday after being drafted by San Francisco and was ecstatic about joining his new NFL squad. He smiled through the whole discussion and even apologized to the reporters on the call as he received call notifications during the conversation.
Jennings was downright delightful during the virtual media session. Based solely on that interaction, one might find it hard to believe that he ever had any issues that warranted discipline.
Will Jennings be able to keep his cool and stay out of trouble in the NFL? Lynch believes so, and a lot of that has to do with the 49ers locker room.
"There's some things on the field, in terms of the discipline and all that," Lynch said. "But that's when you get a strong team of character; you can help guys like that. He's not a bad guy. His emotions get the best of him, at times. We feel comfortable in Jauan's ability to come in and really be a big part of our team."
