49ers’ second-round pick is named after a movie bully. Is he one? ‘On the field I am’
The 49ers decided not to bring back veteran receiver Pierre Garçon for 2019, though they loved the anger he played with.
They found a wideout with a similar hostile attitude early in the second round of the NFL draft, grabbing South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel with the No. 36 pick.
Samuel’s name might explain his playing style.
“I got the nickname from the movie ‘Friday,’” Samuel said at the combine in February, referring to the bully in the 1995 film. “My dad named me that. So when I was a kid, he said I used to be a bully and take kids’ toys and stuff at a young age.”
Asked if he was still a bully, Samuel said, “Nah. On the field I am.”
It’s been clear since the combine the 49ers were in the market for a receiver, perhaps one to that could replace Garçon in the starting lineup as soon as this fall. Samuel endeared himself to coach Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers’ staff at the Senior Bowl, where he showed off his athleticism, route running and a unique ability to run after the catch.
Samuel finished his four seasons with the Gamecocks with 1,244 yards after the catch, including 592 in 2018. He also set a career high with 11 touchdowns last season.
Samuel should slide into Garçon’s “Z” receiver role where he’ll join last year’s second-round pick Dante Pettis, veteran Marquise Goodwin, former undrafted free agent Kendrick Bourne and 2017 fifth-round pick Trent Taylor.
This story was originally published April 26, 2019 at 4:45 PM.
