49ers sign 5 draft picks, 5 undrafted free agents

© Robert Franklin | 2021 Jan 1

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The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have signed five of the team’s eight draft picks, each to four-year deals, along with five undrafted rookie free agents.

DRAFT PICK SIGNINGS

Name	Position	Ht.	Wt.	School
Aaron Banks	OL	6-5	325	Notre Dame
Jaylon Moore	OL	6-4	311	Western Michigan
Deommodore Lenoir	DB	5-10	200	Oregon
Talanoa Hufanga	S	6-0	200	Southern California
Elijah Mitchell	RB	5-10	200	Louisiana

UNDRAFTED SIGNINGS

See below for detailed player biographies of the signed players:

Draft Pick Player Bios

Banks (6-5, 325) was selected by the 49ers in the second round (48th overall) of this year’s NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He appeared in 38 games (31 starts) in four years (2017-20) at Notre Dame. As a senior in 2020, he started all 12 games, including an appearance in the CFP Semifinal and was named First-Team AFCA All-America and Associated Press First-Team All-America. He started all 13 games as a junior in 2019 and helped the Irish rank 13th nationally in scoring offense after playing in all 13 games (six starts) as a sophomore in 2018. He did not see game action as a freshman in 2017.

A 23-year-old native of El Cerrito, CA, Banks attended El Cerrito (CA) High School.

Moore (6-4, 311) was the first of three fifth-round draft picks (155th overall) selected by the 49ers in this year’s draft out of Western Michigan. He appeared in 36 games (26 starts) in five years (2016-20) at Western Michigan. Moore played in all six games as a redshirt senior in 2020 and blocked for a WMU offense that ranked fourth in the MAC in yards per game (479.7). He started all 13 games in 2019 and helped the Broncos finish with a top-three MAC ranking in total offensive yards per game (445.7). In 2018, he started all 13 games and was part of an offensive line that allowed the second-fewest sacks allowed per game (1.54 average) in the MAC. He appeared in five games in 2017 as a redshirt freshman and did not see game action in 2016.

A 23-year-old native of Detroit, MI, Moore attended Consortium College Prep (Detroit, MI).

Lenoir (5-10, 200) was the second of three fifth-round draft picks (172nd overall) selected by the 49ers in this year’s draft out of Oregon. He appeared in 47 games (34 starts) in four years (2017-20) at Oregon and recorded 154 tackles, 27 passes defensed, six interceptions, 4.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. As a senior in 2020, he started all seven games and recorded 30 tackles, one interception, one pass defensed and one forced fumble and was named Associated Press Second-Team All-Pac-12. He started all 14 games in 2019 and registered 47 tackles, eight passes defensed, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery and was named Associated Press Second-Team All-Pac-12. As a sophomore in 2018, he started all 13 games and recorded 52 tackles, 12 passes defensed and three interceptions. In 2017, he recorded 25 tackles, six passes defensed, 1.5 tackles for loss and one interception.

A 21-year-old native of Los Angeles, CA, Lenoir attended Salesian (Los Angeles, CA) High School.

Hufanga (6-0, 200) was the third of three fifth-round draft picks (180th overall) selected by the 49ers in this year’s draft out of Southern California. He appeared in 24 (21 starts) games in three years (2018-20) at USC and recorded 203 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 12 passes defensed, 6.5 sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles. As a junior in 2020, he started all six games and registered 62 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, four interceptions, 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles. He started all 10 games in which he appeared as a sophomore in 2019 and recorded 90 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. As a freshman in 2018, he appeared in eight games (five starts) and hauled in 51 tackles, four passes defensed, and 3.5 tackles for loss.

A 21-year-old native of Corvallis, OR, Hufanga attended Crescent Valley (Corvallis, OR) High School.

Mitchell (5-10, 200) was selected by the 49ers in the sixth round (194th overall) of this year’s NFL Draft out of Louisiana. He appeared in 42 games (25 starts) in four years (2017-20) at Louisiana and recorded 527 carries for 3,267 yards and 41 touchdowns to go along with 49 receptions for 597 yards and five touchdowns. As a senior in 2020, he appeared in 10 games (nine starts) and recorded 141 carries for 878 yards and eight touchdowns and one reception for 153 yards and earned First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He appeared in all 14 games (three starts) as a junior in 2019 and registered 198 rushes for a career-high 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with 10 receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown and was named First-Team All-Louisiana. He started all 13 games as a sophomore in 2018 and recorded 985 rushing yards on 146 carries and 13 touchdowns and 20 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns. As a freshman in 2017, he appeared in five games and rushed 42 times for 257 yards and four touchdowns and added three receptions for 25 yards and one touchdown through the air.

A 23-year-old native of Erath, LA, Mitchell attended Erath (LA) High School.

Undrafted Player Bios

OL Alfredo Gutierrez

6-9, 332

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Grew up playing youth football in Mexico before moving to the U.S. Upon graduating high school, he enrolled in junior college before returning home to Mexico and joining Tec de Monterrey on a full athletic scholarship. Graduated from Tec de Monterrey, where he won a National Championship in 2019. Joins the 49ers as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, will be on the roster until the end of training camp, where he is eligible for an international player practice squad exemption, granting the 49ers an extra practice squad member that is ineligible to be activated during the 2021 season. Born 12/29/95 in Tijuana, Mexico.

LB Justin Hilliard

6-1, 231

Ohio State

Appeared in 50 games (7 starts) during his 6 years at Ohio State (2015-20) and registered 84 tackles, 9 TFLs, 3 FRs, 2 INTs and 1 FF. In 2020, appeared in 6 games (4 starts) and tallied 33 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 FRs, 1 FF and 1 INT after being granted a 6^th year of eligibility. As a junior, saw action in 12 games (3 starts) and recorded 13 tackles, 3 TFLs and 1 INT. In 2018, appeared in 12 games and notched 20 tackles and 1 TFL. As a redshirt freshman, saw action in 14 games and registered 14 tackles after appearing in 3 games and finishing with 4 tackles the year prior in 2016. Redshirted in 2015. Attended St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH) HS where he finished with 71 tackles and 5.0 sacks as a senior. Born 3/25/97 in Cincinnati, OH.

TE Josh Pederson

6-5, 235

Louisiana Monroe

Appeared in 44 games (33 starts) during his 5-year career at Louisiana Monroe (2016-20) and registered 99 recepts. for 1,191 yds. and 11 TDs. In 2020, started all 10 games and tallied 32 recepts. for 367 yds. As a junior, earned First-Team All-Sun Belt honors. Started all 12 games and recorded 43 recepts. for 567 yds. and 9 TDs. In 2018, appeared in 11 games (5 starts) and notched 12 recepts. for 121 yds. and 2 TDs. As a redshirt freshman, saw action in 11 games (6 starts) and registered 12 recepts. for 136 yds. Redshirted in 2016. Attended Blue Valley North (Overland Park, KS) HS where he had 73 career receptions for 1,102 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2 seasons. Born 9/22/97 in Green Bay, WI.

LB Elijah Sullivan

6-0, 215

Kansas State 

Appeared in 48 games (24 starts) during his 6 years at Kansas State (2015-20) and registered 144 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 6 PDs, 2.0 sacks, 2 INTs, 2 FFs and 1 FR. In 2020, started all 8 games in which he appeared and tallied 40 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT and 1 PD after being granted a 6^th year of eligibility and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors. As a junior, started all 13 games and recorded 65 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 5 PDs, 1.0 sack and 1 INT. In 2018, appeared in 3 games (1 start) and notched 7 tackles before being granted a medical redshirt. As a sophomore, saw action in 13 games (2 starts) and registered 28 tackles, 2 FFs, 1 FR, 1.0 TFL and 1.0 sack. In 2016, appeared in 11 games and finished with 4 tackles. Redshirted in 2015. Attended Tucker (GA) HS where he helped lead the Tigers to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the state playoffs. Born 5/13/97 in Tucker, GA.

WR Austin Watkins Jr.

6-3, 210

Alabama at Birmingham

Appeared in 25 games (17 starts) in 3 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2018-20) and registered 98 recepts. for 1,642 yds. and 9 TDs. He transferred to UAB from Dodge City (KS) Community College (2016-17) where he made 19 starts and added 62 recepts. for 706 yds. and 5 TDs. In 2020, earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors as he started all 7 games in which he appeared in and tallied 34 recepts. for 468 yds. and 3 TDs. As a junior, earned Second-Team All-Conference USA honors. Saw action in 14 games (10 starts) and recorded 57 recepts. for 1,092 yds. and 6 TDs, becoming just 1 of 3 players in school history to register 1,000-or-more rec. yds in a single. In 2018, appeared in 4 games and notched 7 recepts. for 82 yds. and was granted a redshirt season. In 2017 at Dodge City CC, made 9 starts and registered 24 recepts. for 330 yds. and 4 TDs. As a freshman in 2016, started all 10 games in which he appeared and finished with 38 recepts. for 376 yds. and 1 TD. Attended North Fort Myers (FL) HS. Born 2/16/98 in Fort Myers, FL.