Jauan Jennings earns respect from 49ers defense

Jauan Jennings made the highlight reels for his tenacious block against Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine in last weekend's playoff game.

The wide receiver's relentless effort in that play didn't surprise his San Francisco 49ers teammates, who have observed Jennings giving his all since he entered the league.

"What he did on that, taking the guy into the Gatorade, it's what he does every play out at practice," head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday. "Our defense tried to fight him all last year because they thought he was going above and beyond. The next day in the meeting, I had to show them what he does every single play and say it's not personal; this is just how he blocks. He stops after the whistle. He just drives into people, puts his face and hands into people, and never stops."

Dre Greenlaw recalled a practice rep against Jennings that made the linebacker genuinely take notice of the physical receiver.

"Jauan, he'll get you," Greenlaw told reporters on Thursday. "... I remember, one time, Jauan laid me out. I know, right? It sounds crazy, but he did. And I wasn't expecting it, but he did, and I was like, 'Damn.' But that's just the way that he goes. I remember just watching film, and every time Kyle goes on the film, he always just points Jauan out. Like, I think he's doing this on purpose, but he's doing it to every guy that he lines up against on game day. So you know that he's not doing it on purpose.

"He's tempered it down a little bit in practice. He don't do it as much, but he definitely still gets out there and lets you know. But yeah, he definitely don't do that no more (in practice)."

Despite Jennings' fun-loving personality off the football field, the receiver has earned the respect of his defensive teammates with his fierce reputation on the field.

"He plays the game exactly the way that you want it to be played, especially at that position," linebacker Fred Warner said on Wednesday. "I've said it before; I think he's one of the best football players on our team. He doesn't get all the attention or the limelight, but he's going to be there in the clutch situations when you need him."

Greenlaw appreciates watching Jennings give his all while surprising unsuspecting opponents with his above-and-beyond physical play, a mentality ingrained on the defensive side of the football.

"You got to respect that, especially [from] a receiver," Greenlaw said. "The way that he's willing to block, the way he's willing to go across the middle. Just the toughness and the energy that he brings to the team, [not only] to the offense but to the defense as well. He could definitely be a defender on the defensive side, as [well as] the offense."

Greenlaw concluded, "We just love his mentality on defense, and it kind of sets the vibe for how we're going to play that game."