With their third of three picks in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft (pick 139 overall), the San Francisco 49ers added some help to their secondary in the form of University of Washington cornerback Ephesians Prysock.
Prysock has a standout physical profile (6-3 3/8, 196 pounds, 4.45 40) that makes him an intriguing prospect. Here's a look at what to know about Prysock as he heads to the Bay Area.
His road to the NFL
Prysock played his high school ball at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, California. He was a four-star prospect who drew looks from some of the nation's top college programs before committing to the University of Arizona, where he totaled 77 tackles in two seasons while being named honorable mention All-Pac-12 as a sophomore.
Prysock headed to Washington after the Huskies hired then-Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch and picked up where he left off, starting 13 games as a junior while totaling 45 tackles and earning honorable mention All-Big Ten as a senior while making 48 tackles and one interception.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Prysock shined athletically with a 39-inch vertical jump and a 10'4'' broad jump to go with his 4.45 40. He was also measured with a hand size of 9 3/4 with a 33 1/8-inch arm length.
A number of scouts projected Prysock to come off the board roughly in the same neighborhood where the 49ers drafted him. He was rated as the No. 18 overall cornerback prospect by ESPN.com.
"Prysock does a good job mirroring receivers' releases, but he could improve at using his length more to disrupt routes and timing at the line of scrimmage," ESPN wrote. "He relies on a gather step when getting out of breaks, which can affect his ability in coverage. Prysock will also have issues idling down when he gets going vertically to come back downhill. At the top of routes, he tries to play with physicality but can get too handsy. When the ball is in the air, he does a good job turning his head to locate or play through the receiver's hands. Against the run, he will set the edge but struggles to bring down ball carriers. Overall, Prysock has length and athleticism that can be molded into an effective cornerback at the next level."
What to expect
One player Prysock is reminiscent of physically is former 49er Ahkello Witherspoon, who was also a long, lean corner who came out of college with untapped potential. While speaking with reporters Saturday, Prysock made it sound like he was ready to fit in wherever the 49ers lined him up.
"I feel like I'm a long, versatile guy that can get in and out of breaks and transitions and that has the skillset to be one of the greatest corners," Prysock said, later adding, "I can do it all. I feel like if it's press man or even off in zone coverage -- Cover 2, Cover 3, Cover 4 -- I feel like I can play everything."
The 49ers didn't talk with Prysock much before the draft, holding only a Zoom call with him. But he couldn't have been happier to come on board.
"It means everything to me," Prysock said. "It's been a lifelong dream since I was a kid. They could have called me any point. But it means everything to me and my family. It's just a blessing -- blessed to be here."
Iron sharpens iron
While at Washington, Prysock had a chance to hone his skills against one of the best receiving prospects in the 2026 draft in Denzel Boston. Boston was long thought to be on the radar of the 49ers, but the 49ers passed on him when they had the chance before he was selected 37th overall by the Cleveland Browns.
"I went against Denzel Boston almost every day, if not every day," Prysock said Saturday. "But it helped me do different things because he's a real good receiver off the line, with his route running, at the catch point. So it took my game to another level just coming out there and competing each and every day."
Brotherly inspiration
Prysock has six siblings -- two older brothers, three younger brothers, and a twin sister. But according to a 2020 story by Sun Devil Source, it's Prysock's oldest sibling that has been his biggest inspiration.
"My oldest brother played corner," Prysock said. "He went through some things though. He had cancer and that forced him to stop playing. He couldn't play anymore after that. Now he teaches me a lot of the things I know now. He teaches me techniques and how to cover certain types of receivers.
"His story is one of my biggest things that keeps me going. He went through so much. We watch film together a lot and do things about football together. We have that with each other."
Prysock cherished the opportunity to experience the draft with his family, whom he was with near Hollywood, California.
"I'm just blessed," Prysock said Saturday. "I can't really explain the feeling, but it's great to have these people around me and these people who support me each and every day."
Familiar faces
Maybe Prysock won't be a complete stranger when he arrives at 49ers facilities. One player he knows is the player the 49ers selected before him -- offensive lineman Carver Willis, who was a teammate of Prysock for a season at Washington.
"That's my guy," Prysock said.
Prysock also has a connection with 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who played his prep football at Salesian High School in Los Angeles.
"My two older brothers played (in) high school with him, so I know him a little bit," Prysock said. "I'm pretty familiar with him."
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