49ers undrafted rookie AlShaair has used resilience to get this far
Azeez AlShaair was confused before the start of his first NFL practice.
The 49ers’ undrafted rookie inside linebacker approached the field and saw AllPro cornerback Richard Sherman among a group of players already working up a sweat. Was he late? “I come out there and I’m seeing Sherman, all these guys, coming out 30 minutes before practice and it looks like they’re working out,” AlShaair said. “I’m like, ‘What the hell are they doing?’ You don’t realize you have to prepare the right way. … It’s not as simple as doing a couple of jumping jacks or sprints and going out there anymore.”
AlShaair not only learned how to prepare properly in the NFL, but he showed the 49ers he can play in the league, too.
On Saturday, AlShaair be
came the only undrafted rookie — and the first since 2017 — to make the 49ers’ initial 53man roster.
AlShaair ranked third in the nation in tackles in 2017 at Florida Atlantic, but the surefire draft pick wasn’t selected after he tore his ACL and sustained a Grade 1 sprain of his meniscus in October.
This preseason, however, his healthy stat line reflected well on his recovery: AlShaair had 13 tackles, ranking third on the team, with a pass breakup and fumble recovery.
The 49ers became believers. On Saturday, they waived David Mayo, whom they signed in March, and Elijah Lee, who started five games last year, and gave AlShaair a potentially prominent role. The 49ers kept just five linebackers, and AlShaair is the primary backup behind starting inside linebackers Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander.
The good news for the 49ers: AlShaair wasn’t overly impressed by his preseason.
“I didn’t feel like it was anything crazy or anything super special,” AlShaair said Thursday. “I made some plays in my mind, but there were a lot of plays I could have made that I didn’t. There are different things I could have done better.”
AlShaair was accustomed to overcoming obstacles before he made the team while playing on a recently surgically repaired knee.
He and his seven siblings grew up in poverty in Tampa, Fla., and they often slept on the floor in the homes of friends and relatives while his mom worked multiple jobs. AlShaair was one of five NCAA athletes honored last year with the Wilma Rudolph StudentAthlete Achievement Award, which recognizes those who have overcome extreme hardship to achieve academic success.
AlShaair’s Instagram bio includes this description: “Overcomer of Adversity.”
The 49ers had insight into AlShaair’s resilience thanks to passrush specialist coach Chris Kiffin, who was his defensive coordinator at FAU in 2017. However, there was one thing the team wanted to change about the school’s alltime leading tackler: his rehab.
AlShaair took part in FAU’s pro day in late March, less than five months after his surgery, and the 49ers’ medical staff decided it would be prudent to tap the brakes on his aggressive comeback.
“We had to slow Azeez down,” general manager John Lynch said. “… He did that. He got himself to where that (knee) wasn’t an issue and just played at a very high level. We felt like we couldn’t keep him off the team.”
AlShaair said Sherman did more than show him to prepare like a pro. He also taught him how to approach his daunting task as an undrafted player. Sherman’s Rrated advice: Don’t give a, well, hoot.
Sherman wasn’t counseling him to not care, but to give his best and not stress about his uncertain future. AlShaair termed it the best advice he has received in the NFL.
“Just do what you can do,” he said. “You can’t do anything else more than you can do. Nothing else is in my control.” Roster move: In a move that was expected, the 49ers placed defensive lineman Kentavius Street on injured reserve. Street had arthroscopic knee surgery Friday and could return when he is eligible after the first eight weeks of the season.
The 49ers filled Street’s roster spot by resigning safety Antone Exum, who was waived Saturday. The 49ers had just three safeties when they assembled their initial 53man roster Saturday. Practice squad: The 49ers announced the signing of nine players to their 10man practice squad, all of whom spent the offseason with the team: Lee, defensive linemen Kevin Givens and Jeremiah Valoaga, running back Jeff Wilson, safety Marcell Harris, guard Ross Reynolds, tight end Daniel Helm, wide receiver Malik Henry and linebacker Demetrius FlanniganFowles.
The 49ers also will sign undrafted rookie offensive tackle Ryan Pope, NBC Sports Bay Area reported. Pope was waived by the Lions on Saturday.