49ers receiver Deebo Samuel practices footwork after big rookie season

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Will Muschamp vouched for Deebo Samuel before the 2019 NFL Draft. He wanted the 49ers to know what they saw at the Senior Bowl was what they would get every day. 

The South Carolina coach also was extremely honest with general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan.

“You’re going to need to stay on him about his weight in the offseason,” Muschamp told NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco on The 49ers Insider Podcast.

That doesn't seem to be an issue so far. Samuel is working on getting out of breaks and his hand-eye coordination this offseason after an impressive rookie year. 

The trainer in the video is tossing Samuel hand-eye coordination sticks with three colors: Red, white and blue. He says a color and the 49ers receiver must catch the stick on that color. 

Samuel seemed to be the perfect fit for Shanahan's offense as a rookie, totaling 961 yards -- 802 receiving and 159 rushing -- over 15 regular-season games. He also scored six touchdowns. 

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It's easy to see Samuel grow in Year 2, especially with Brandon Aiyuk as another threat to opposing defenses. The young receiver became one of Jimmy Garoppolo's favorite targets in the second half, and he will enter the 2020 season as San Francisco's No. 1 receiver. 

In the meantime, he's putting the work in to avoid a sophomore slump.

[49ERS INSIDER PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]

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