How TO plans to help his son Terique excel as a 49ers UDFA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Terique Owens has a tough road ahead of him to make the 49ers roster as an undrafted free agent, but he will have a lot help from his dadTerrell Owens, on the road.
The Hall of Famer and former 49ers catcher joined 95.7 The Game on Monday, where he explained how Terique has an “advantage” in the competition if the young catcher follows his father’s advice.
“Number one, the physical attributes,” Terrell told “The Morning Roast” (h/t 49ers web zone) “You think about long arms, just his size. He weighs (listed at 6-3), 200 pounds. And like I did, he’s going to get better, he’s going to get bigger, he’s going to get stronger. Obviously, he’s going to get faster. A lot of people will probably fall asleep at his speed. We’ve really been working on the fundamentals and basics of road running, transitioning, getting in and out of routes.
“Again, as far as playmaking ability, it’s got to come. Once he’s got it all down, he’ll go to camp (this) week. He’s already started taking some of the online classes with coach (of receivers) (Leonard) Hankerson, just to focus on plays, things of that nature, just some talk and some of the things I can really help with: understanding routes and formations.
“Those are some of the things we all had to go through as a rookie, and he’s going to go through that too. So, once again, I already told him that having me as a father has nothing to do with it.” to do with the ability to create plays or something like that. I told him that I’m like he has the answers to the test, and that if he’s smart enough to lean on me, he has one foot up and one leg up on a lot of things. the competition.”
the 49ers signed Terique as UDFA following the 2024 NFL Draft, which also featured the children of other 49ers legends such as Frank Gore and Jerry Rice. Jerry’s son Brenden was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round, while Frank Gore Jr. signed with the Buffalo Bills as a UDFA.
Terique began his college career in the Bay Area at Contra Costa College before transferring to Florida Atlantic University and Missouri State, where he spent the final three seasons of his NCAA career.
The 6-foot-3, 193-pound receiver caught 28 passes for 528 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, averaging 18.9 yards per catch, and also participated at the 49ers’ local pro day on April 10 at Levi’s Stadium. Terique’s last name, of course, is already well-known in the Bay Area, where Terrell played his first eight NFL seasons with the 49ers from 1996-2003.
While San Francisco must have seen potential in Terique during that pro day, his task as making the 49ers roster for the 2024 NFL season is tough with a wide receiver spot that includes Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, Trent Taylor, Danny Gray and Tay Martin, not to mention the ’24 draft picks. Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing.
But with his father on his side, Terique has the advantage of learning from the best, along with his new 49ers coaches.
“As far as my son goes, hey, if he can come in, learn the offense, and that’s what I told him first, learn everything first, and then your playmaking ability, that will take care of itself.” Terrell said. “Sometimes, it’s not just about who is the most athletic. It’s about who knows the most and who is the most trustworthy.
“That will all play out on its own.”