It’s no secret that the San Francisco 49ers came into the 2025 offseason with one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. After giving up just 192.8 passing yards per game last season—good for fourth-fewest in the league—you might’ve thought their cornerback unit would stay mostly intact. But nope. Major shakeups happened. Like, full-blown roster shuffle.
Charvarius Ward, Isaac Yiadom, Nick McCloud, and Rock Ya-Sin? Gone. All headed to new teams via free agency or trades. In their place? A fresh crop of experienced vets and hungry rookies are now battling for roles. New to the fold: Tre Brown, Eli Apple, Siran Neal, and Tre Tomlinson, all brought in to bolster the secondary. But that’s not all...
Fresh Blood, Fresh Hopes
The 49ers didn’t stop at signing vets. They also tapped into the draft pool, adding a trio of cornerbacks to their roster. The name that stands out the most right now? Upton Stout.
Drafted in the third round out of Western Kentucky, Stout was San Francisco’s only CB pick in the draft. But what’s wild is how quickly he’s climbing the ladder. Due to some early injuries in camp—Renardo Green dealing with a hamstring strain and Deommodore Lenoir missing practice—Stout’s role in training camp suddenly got a whole lot bigger than anyone expected.
And he's definitely making the most of it.
Next-Man-Up Mentality: Stout Seizing the Moment
Six days into training camp at the SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara, and guess who’s getting significant reps? Yep, Upton Stout.
He’s been taking more snaps, lining up against some of the team’s top offensive threats, and soaking in every coaching point like a sponge. What’s standing out the most isn’t just his hustle—it’s his head.
“He’s a sharp kid,” said Robert Saleh, the returning defensive coordinator who’s back with the Niners after four years as the Jets' head coach. “It’s definitely not too big for him.”
Now that’s high praise coming from Saleh—especially this early.
But Saleh also threw in a dose of coaching wisdom, reminding everyone that while Stout looks polished, it’s still early days:
“You’ve still got to slow play it. Regardless of how smart you feel like they are, there are still a lot of things that they’re still learning... you want to push the envelope, but not so far that they can’t execute.”
Translation? Stout’s showing big-time potential, but the coaching staff’s walking a fine line between challenging him and overwhelming him.
Quick Look at the Resume: Who is Upton Stout?
Before becoming a 49er, Stout had quite the college journey. He started at North Texas in 2020, then transferred to Western Kentucky in 2022, where he really started making noise.
Just take a peek at the numbers:
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125 total tackles (11 of them for a loss)
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11 passes defensed
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6 interceptions
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1.5 sacks
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1 forced fumble and 1 recovery
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33 career games
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All-Conference selection 3 times
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FCS All-American honors twice
That’s not a résumé you just toss aside. And now, he’s out to prove that his college production wasn’t a fluke—it was a preview.
The Rookie Grind: Learning by Getting Beat
Look, no rookie goes through training camp without taking a few lumps. And Stout is no exception.
“He’s been beat a few times,” Saleh admitted, “obviously there’s a couple of coverage things... but it’s all learning. That’s for all those guys.”
In other words, mistakes aren’t the problem—it’s how you bounce back from them. And by all accounts, Stout’s response has been textbook. He’s focused, detail-oriented, and showing the kind of resilience that gets coaches fired up.
Saleh emphasized the most important thing for rookies right now is simple:
“Just do your job. Be 100 in that regard. And I think he’s doing a really nice job.”
For a team that’s retooling its secondary on the fly, that’s exactly what you want to hear.
Realistic Expectations... or Could This Kid Start?
Is it too soon to talk about Stout snagging a starting spot? Maybe. But is there a path for him? Absolutely.
With the turnover in the cornerback room and some early camp injuries, opportunities are there for the taking. And Stout’s not just earning reps—he’s earning trust. The kind of trust that could have him climbing the depth chart faster than anyone expected.
He's just 23 years old, but the maturity he’s showing on and off the field is turning heads. And when you combine that with his college pedigree, it’s easy to see why San Francisco used a valuable Day 2 draft pick on him.
Why Stout Matters in the Big Picture
The 49ers are aiming for another deep playoff run, and no team makes it far without reliable secondary play. Last year’s defense was elite, but the departure of four cornerbacks left some big cleats to fill.
What this team needs right now are smart, adaptable, and coachable players who can step in and execute at a high level—especially when injuries hit. Stout’s emerging as one of those guys.
And let’s be real: this is more than just a camp story. If he continues to progress the way he has, fans might be hearing his name a lot more come September.
Final Take: Keep Your Eye on Upton
Training camp is often where hidden gems shine, and Upton Stout might just be that for the 49ers this year. His intelligence, drive, and raw skillset are standing out, even in a crowded and competitive secondary.
Sure, there’s still a long way to go. He’s got to stay consistent, stay healthy, and keep learning. But right now? All signs point to a rookie who’s making waves—and maybe, just maybe, forcing the coaching staff to rethink the depth chart a little sooner than expected.
So yeah, if you're a Niners fan? Keep your eyes on No. 24 (or whatever jersey number he ends up with). Upton Stout might just be the name you didn’t know you needed to know—until now.
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