49ers met with receiver who ran a 4.3-second 40-time

Justin Melo of The Draft Network reports that the San Francisco 49ers held a virtual meeting with Duke wide receiver Eli Pancol as they wrapped up their pre-draft interviews.

Pancol (6-2, 205) impressed at his pro day, posting a blazing 4.33-second 40-yard dash, a 36-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-3 broad jump. That 40-time would have ranked third among wideouts at the NFL Scouting Combine.

After missing the 2023 season due to a lower-body injury suffered during fall camp, Pancol bounced back in 2024 with a strong senior campaign, recording 60 receptions for 798 yards and nine touchdowns across 13 games. His comeback earned him the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award, given to the conference's comeback player of the year.

"Being away from the game makes you realize how much you really love football," Pancol said. "Even though it was such a terrible time for me, it was also a blessing in disguise. I was able to step back and really just appreciate football."

The 49ers may be eyeing additional receiver depth heading into the 2025 season after trading Deebo Samuel and awaiting Brandon Aiyuk's return from knee surgery. Jauan Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall are the potential Week 1 starters.

Pancol wrapped up his collegiate career with 130 catches for 1,710 yards and 16 total touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per reception.

"Any team that gets Eli Pancol is getting a relentless hard worker," Pancol told Melo. "I've proven that no matter how much adversity comes my way, I'm always going to overcome the obstacles. I'm coming to work every single day to get better.

I love the game of football. I love feeding off the energy of the fans. I use that to energize my teammates. I'm also a physical receiver who loves to block. I'm ready to work. You can't go wrong with somebody like me."