49ers Oline’s Swiss Army knife sharpening his skills on plains
The 49ers’ offensive lineman who rose from obscurity last season is spending his offseason in relative obscurity.
Daniel Brunskill is preparing to build on his breakthrough year in Bismarck, N.D., the capital of America’s fourthleastpopulated state.
Brunskill, 26, grew up in San Diego, but his parents recently moved to North Dakota, where his two sisters have remained after playing softball at the University of Mary.
A fun fact about Bismarck, Daniel?
“There’s actually quite a few 49er fans,” Brunskill said.
Niners fans could see even more of Brunskill this season after the undrafted free agent who was playing in the nowdefunct Alliance of American Football 14 months ago beat big odds in 2019. First, he made the 53man roster, and then he made a strong impression while making seven fillin starts: four at right tackle, two at right guard and one at left tackle.
Brunskill is now the leading candidate to start at right guard for the defending NFC champions. In March, the 49ers released right guard Mike Person, their starter the previous two seasons, which was a nod to their confidence in Brunskill. He will compete with Tom Compton, 31, an eightyear veteran on his sixth team who was signed in April.
“He’s a big part of our plans going forward,” general manager John Lynch said of Brunskill in April. “We really think we’ve found something there and our coaches did a tremendous job developing him.”
The 49ers are returning 18 starters from last season’s 133 team. Three vacated starting spots will be assumed by high
“I don’t know if there’s ever a time to really sit around and think that you’ve made it.”
Daniel Brunskill, 49ers guard
profile players: Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams and the 49ers’ two firstround picks, defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Meanwhile, far less attention has been paid to Brunskill. But he’s accustomed to that. Before 2019, Brunskill spent his first two NFL seasons on the Falcons’ practice squad. Before that? He began his college career as a walkon blocking tight end at San Diego State. He earned a scholarship as a redshirt junior.
Given his background, Brunskill is hesitant to declare he has arrived. That was clear when he was asked about having a chance to reflect on his successful season.
“There’s been time and it’s pretty cool,” Brunskill said. “I’ll be talking with people and they’ll ask about it. And it’s great to be able to do that. But the (NFL) is a totally different beast. And there’s plenty of good players. So I don’t know if there’s ever a time to really sit around and think that you’ve made it.”
Brunskill made his first NFL start against the Rams in October filled with emotion and anxiety. A few days before kickoff, his eyes were misty when telling reporters how meaningful the game would be in light of his unconventional path.
And just before kickoff, he was overcome as he ran on the field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“I had goosebumps on my arms and my legs were shaking a little bit,” Brunskill said.
“I remember just thinking I wanted to do the best I could to help the team win.”
Brunskill succeeded. The 49ers were 61 in his starts and he went from a question mark to an ultrareliable fillin. He capably replaced right tackle Mike McGlinchey, left tackle Joe Staley and Person. The 49ers averaged 26.4 points in his starts.
“We brought him in (last spring) and he had a great workout for us but never did we know he’d end up saving us like he did,” Lynch said. “The neat thing about Brunskill, I really believe he could play all five spots on that offensive line.”
Last year, including preseason games, Brunskill did play every position on the offensive line. And the versatile supersub gradually began to play with more confidence.
Now, as he prepares for 2020, he’s working out in obscurity — he’s set up a makeshift weight room in a sister’s garage — with an eye on earning a prominent role.
“It was awesome to be out there and learn,” Brunskill said. “Because every game you’re in, it just helps you to get better and better. I can just tell from the first few games I was in until later in the season how much more comfortable I got. … It was a good experience, but I definitely can improve. There’s a lot I can do to be better player.”