49ers to visit with Ohio State wideout Devin Smith

More evidence that the 49ers are interested in adding another receiver with the ability to score back-breaking touchdowns: They will meet next week with Ohio State wideout Devin Smith, who did that perhaps better than anyone else in the nation last season.

Smith (6-0, 196 pounds) had 12 scores this past season and averaged a gaudy 28.2 yards per reception. More than half of his catches were for 25 yards or more. Smith ran his 40-yard dash at Indianapolis in 4.42 seconds, which actually was a bit slower than some were expecting.

He's drawn comparisons to DeSean Jackson, Mike Wallace and other deep-threat wide receivers in the NFL. The 49ers also met with him at the combine. Most of the team's coaches were left behind in Santa Clara; the wide receivers coaches, however, traveled to Indianapolis for the event.

The 49ers, of course, signed Torrey Smith to a five-year deal in free agency, and he is expected to be the deep threat in the team's offense this season. Still, the 49ers are intent on using more play action and expanding their deep game this season, and they are looking at other prospects who can stretch the field, too.

Louisville receiver DeVante Parker and Auburn receiver Sammie Coates, for example, also will visit 49ers headquarters next week. They also have spent time with the consensus Top 2 receivers in the draft, Alabama's Amari Cooper and West Virginia's Kevin White.

The 49ers are allotted 30 visits by would-be draft picks. They typically hold them over two days.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 1:48 PM with the headline "49ers to visit with Ohio State wideout Devin Smith."