The 49ers’ rookie class got together for the first time this week, leading up to their first time together on the field Friday morning for a walk-through practice.
Quarterback Trey Lance, the headliner of the 49ers’ 2021 draft, already had a good rapport with one of the other notable rookies. And he saw another of the undrafted players often on film.
During the pre-draft process, Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, trained with Ohio State running back Trey Sermon, a third-round selection.
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Sermon said he was excited to rejoin Lance this week in Santa Clara.
“He’s a good dude, and I know he’s a hard worker,” Sermon said of Lance. “Just from training with him back in Pensacola at EXOS, I saw from then just how hard he works and he’s just trying to be the best he can be.
“When I got that call, I was excited. I was like, ‘I was training with this guy back in Florida, and now we’re going to be on the same team.’ It was definitely a good feeling.”
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Lance said he and Sermon got to know each other in the months leading up to the draft. And, now, he’s getting to know his new teammates.
“It’s been really cool to get to know the other guys,” Lance said.
The other rookie with whom Lance said he is most familiar with Austin Watkins Jr., an undrafted rookie from UAB.
“Austin Watkins was a guy I watched a ton of film on because he played at UAB and they played a couple of teams I played,” Lance said. “So I saw him play a good amount, watching opposing team’s defenses. So he was another guy I was super-excited about.”