Former Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Gracen Halton knows what it means to be an underdog. And if you ask the San Francisco 49ers rookie, that's exactly what the Faithful should expect to see when he steps onto the field. "They're getting a dog," Halton told NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan. "A dog that can play ball, that has a chip on his shoulder…an underdog that's going to prevail."
Then he added the words every 49ers fan loves to hear: "We coming, man. We ready to work…bang, bang, Niner gang."
That message pretty much sums up the mindset Halton is bringing with him to Santa Clara. The rookie defensive lineman has already experienced quite a journey to get to this point. The pre-draft process was stressful and chaotic, and going from that whirlwind to walking into the 49ers' SAP Performance Facility has been something of a dream.
But Halton isn't approaching his opportunity as someone simply happy to be here. He's approaching it with a chip on his shoulder.
"They're getting a dog"
Halton's message to the Faithful is particularly interesting because of the path he took to get to Santa Clara. He grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan, largely because of his father. But as he got older and began thinking about his own football future, that allegiance faded.
Then he walked into the 49ers' facility and saw the history of the franchise surrounding him, especially hanging on the walls. Now he's wearing the red and gold.
And rather than trying to hide the fact that he wasn't always a 49ers fan, Halton seems to have fully embraced what it means to be part of the organization. He also understands what he's walking into. San Francisco isn't expecting him to simply fill a roster spot. The 49ers are hoping the rookie can become another piece of a defensive line that has been one of the defining strengths of the organization for years. Halton appears ready to earn that opportunity.
Learning from Kocerek
That process has already started under defensive line coach Kris Kocerek, whose intensity is well known around the league. Halton said what fans see from Kocerek on the outside is pretty much what the players get inside the building. "You mess up, and you keep on doing it, he's gonna get on you," Halton said.
But Halton was quick to point out that Kocerek's intensity comes from a place of wanting his players to succeed. "He's loving, he knows, like, you're gonna make mistakes," Halton said. "It's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from your mistakes and you overcome."
Kocerek also uses the history of great defensive lines to motivate his players, showing them film of some of the best units in recent NFL history. For a young player like Halton, that's an opportunity to learn from the past while trying to establish his own place in the 49ers' future.
From watching Bosa to working beside him
Perhaps the most surreal part of Halton's transition to the NFL has been getting to work alongside Nick Bosa. Halton watched Bosa play when he was still in middle school. Now he's playing next to him.
"Y'all would have thought the first time I seen him, it would have been like a first time a kid has tasted candy or something," Halton said. "It was surreal…I can look to my left, and he's right there." Halton even told Bosa how long he'd been watching him play. Bosa laughed it off, which Halton understands probably made the veteran star feel a little old. But it's also a reminder of just how quickly the NFL changes. The player Halton once watched from afar is now someone he gets to learn from every day.
What comes next
Halton's story isn't really about being a former Cowboys fan or having a surreal first meeting with Bosa. It's about what comes next. From starting football at six years old to making his way into the NFL, Halton has learned that the noise can become overwhelming if you allow it to.
His advice to his younger self is simple: stay centered, don't listen to the outside noise, and don't get too down on yourself. That's the mentality he's carrying into his rookie season.
And it's also the message he's sending to the Faithful. Don't expect a player who's going to back down. Expect a player who believes he has something to prove. An underdog. A player with a chip on his shoulder. A "dog."
And if Halton can turn that mindset into production on the field, the 49ers may have found themselves another young defensive lineman who fits exactly what they've been looking for. Halton told the fanbase that the 49ers are coming. Now the Faithful will be watching.
Watch the full interview with Halton below:
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