Lodi News-Sentinel

49ers end draft with Mr. Irrelevant — Iowa State QB Brock Purdy

- Jerry McDonald

A rundown of the 49ers’ activity this weekend during the 2022 NFL draft:

Saturday

Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State, Round 7 (No. 262)

— Fast facts: Four-year starter completed 67.7% of his passes for 12,170 yards, 81 touchdowns and 33 intercepti­ons. The firstteam All-Big-12 quarterbac­k goes into the books as this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant,” although as general manager John Lynch said, “He’s relevant to us.” Purdy is the sixth quarterbac­k taken as Mr. Irrelevant since 1976. The last one was Chad Kelly in 2017 by Denver.

— Fun fact: Purdy had no interactio­n at all with coach Kyle Shanahan going into the draft. Purdy dealt with quarterbac­ks coach Brian Griese and offensive assistant Klay Kubiak. Shanahan simply liked his experience level and his knowledge of the position, considered him a priority undrafted free agent, and went ahead and took him with the final pick.

Tariq Castro-Fields, CB Penn State, Round 6 (No. 221)

— Fast facts: Played in 52 career games, making 30 starts at cornerback. Recorded 138 tackles (93 solo), 10 tackles for loss, three intercepti­ons, 25 pass breakups and a forced fumble. A 12-game starter in 2021. All-Big Ten honorable mention selection. Criticisms include a reluctance to tackle. Played just three games in 2020 with nerve-stinger problems. — Fun fact: Lettered in track and field three years in high school and was part of the fastest 4X400 relay team in the state as a sophomore at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Kalia Davis, DT Central Florida, Round 6 (No. 220)

— Fast facts: Davis played just five games as a senior before a torn ACL ended his season. In 28 college games, Davis had three sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Visited the 49ers as one of their 30 visits allowed at the facility. The 49ers see him as a D.J. Jones-type of interior presence but he’ll likely open the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List.

— Fun fact: A high school linebacker, Davis was recruited at that position and actually played there his first two years at UCF. He then moved to defensive end before settling at defensive tackle for his final two seasons.

Nick Zakelj, OL Fordham, Round 6 (No. 187)

— Fast facts: Leader of the Fordham offensive line was a three-time All-Patriot League selection. A four-year starter and on the Patriot League honor roll all four years. A tackle at Fordham, could project as a guard with the 49ers. The fourth player ever drafted out of Fordham and the first 49ers player drafted out of Fordham.

— Fun fact: Zakelj is a self-described “late-bloomer” who played linebacker through his junior year in high school. At the time, he was 6-foot-2, 220 pounds.

Sam Womack, CB, Toledo, Round 5 (No. 172)

— Fast facts: A first-team AllMAC selection, Womack set a Toledo career record with 39 pass breakups and led his league in that category for three straight years. Clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.

— Fun fact: A walk-on at Toledo after playing at East Village Prep in Detroit, Womack was a high school rival of Ambry Thomas, a 49ers rookie draft pick out of Michigan a year ago.

Spencer Burford, OL, TexasSan Antonio, Round 4 (No. 134)

— Fast facts: Burford was a key figure in an offense that set school records for total yards (6,146), total yards per game (439.0), passing yards (3,577), passing yards per game (255.5), points scored (516) and points per game (36.9). Allowed only two sacks and one hit on the quarterbac­k in 420 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus.

— Fun fact: Burford is only third player drafted from TexasSan Antonio, the others being defensive end Marcus Davenport No. 14 overall in 2018 and tight end David Morgan in the sixth round in 2016.

Friday

Drake Jackson, DL, USC, Round 2 (No. 61 overall) — Fast facts: Played in 28 games with 26 starts for the Trojans in three seasons. Had breakout season as a freshman with 5 1/2 sacks, 11 1/2 tackles for loss. Had 25 career tackles for loss. Weight fluctuated from 240pound range to high of 273 depending on whether playing as a linebacker

— Fun fact: Went to Centennial High in Los Angeles area and is one of three players from Corona and USC players to be drafted along with Ryan and Matt Kalil.

Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, LSU, Round 3 (No. 93 overall)

— Fast facts: Physical power back who rushed for 1,744 yards and 15 TDs in career, including 1003 yards on 211 carries as a junior. Was sixth-leading rusher in the SEC. Highs of 36 carries, 287 yards and three touchdowns against Florida.

— Fun fact: As a senior at Southern University Laboratory High, Davis-Price was a finalist for the 2019 Warrick Dunn Award, which is named after the former NFL running back and is awarded to the top high school football player in Baton Rouge annually

Danny Gray, WR SMU, Round 3 (No. 105 overall)

— Fast facts: Started all 18 games he appeared in two years (2020-21) at Southern Methodist and registered 72 receptions for 1,251 yards and 13 TDs. Attended Blinn College for his freshman and sophomore years.

— Fun fact: Also played basketball and competed in track and field at James Madison High in Dallas, where he won state championsh­ips in the 100-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay.

 ?? WILLIE J. ALLEN JR./ORLANDO SENTINEL ?? Iowa State quarterbac­k Brock Purdy warms up before the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson in Orlando, Fla,. on Dec. 29, 2021.
WILLIE J. ALLEN JR./ORLANDO SENTINEL Iowa State quarterbac­k Brock Purdy warms up before the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson in Orlando, Fla,. on Dec. 29, 2021.

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