San Francisco 49ers rookie cornerback Upton Stout has been making a strong impression during training camp. At just 5-foot-8, Stout knows he needs every advantage to compete at the NFL level—and he's not shying away from the challenge.
"Upton, he is a straining, scrappy young man," defensive coordinator Robert Saleh told reporters last week. "Don't fall asleep on his size. The guy plays way bigger than he is, and way bigger than he looks. He's got a violence to him. He's got a violence to his demeanor. So, he's coming along really well, too, in that regard."
Learning from NFL stars
Stout has embraced his role as a pupil, soaking up every bit of knowledge he can from coaches and veteran teammates. The opportunity to play alongside stars like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa isn't lost on him—especially after admiring them from afar for years.
"It's fun because these were the people I've been looking up to, playing Madden with for years," Stout said Monday. "Now, it's kind of like I gotta make sure I'm on my P's and Q's, so I'm not letting the guy next to me down."
Making his mark at nickel corner
The rookie has been taking a significant number of reps at nickel corner, a spot the 49ers see as a potential long-term fit. He's determined to earn the trust of established veterans like Warner and the rest of his teammates.
"I gotta make sure I'm on my P's and Q's because the last thing I wanna do is let one of the vets down," Stout reiterated.
Looking to the past for help
Stout has gone above and beyond in his preparation. He isn't just relying on his current teammates for advice. He even reached out to former 49ers nickel corner K'Waun Williams, who excelled in the same role.
"Really just reaching out to him just so I could just pick his brain and see how he played—a lot of concepts, technique, and things like that," Stout said. "Really just trying to figure out how I could be the best me, but always knowing what the standard was before I came.
"And I just wanted to see what the standard was and see if I could try to surpass that standard."
With his work ethic, willingness to learn, and proactive approach to development, Stout is positioning himself as a player to watch as the 49ers continue building their defense for the future.
Comments