New San Francisco 49ers defensive back Upton Stout, a former Western Kentucky cornerback, wore a big smile and spoke with clear excitement as he joined Bay Area reporters virtually on Friday. Not long before that moment, he had received the call from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, letting him know he was headed to the 49ers.

"I'm not going to lie, I was excited just because, when I took my visit out there, I just knew this is the spot for me," Stout said. "Just seeing all the playmakers they had and all the dogs. I'm just like, if I'm able to feed off them, I could be a great player.


"So, I was excited once John Lynch told me, he was on the phone. I was just turned up and pumped."

Stout was one of 30 prospects who visited the 49ers in Santa Clara before the draft. During that visit, he realized how well he fit with the team's culture and energy.

"The coaches' energy was just off the charts, off the roof," Stout explained. "I just felt like we were vibing right when I got into the DB room. That's when I really felt like, 'Yeah, this is a place for me to be,' after I was just vibing with the coaches."

Stout also admitted he's kept a close eye on the 49ers defense and has been especially impressed by his new teammates, including cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and safety Malik Mustapha.

He's eager to join the defensive backs room and learn from Lenoir in particular.


"I'm just excited to get around him, just seeing all the plays he made, and him being one of the top players in the league as far as in the slot," Stout said. "So, I'm just excited to pick his brain and see how I can develop my game to another level.

"Just trying to feed off his game every day because I know he is doing that at a high level right now. So, I'm just trying to figure out how I can do that and catch on quick."

While Stout is comfortable playing outside, he believes the slot allows him to truly showcase his skill set.

"I can go blitz, I can tap, I can play man-to-man," he said. "So, I feel like me being at the slot really showcases the type of player I am, the type of versatility that I can bring to a team."

And when it comes to physicality and playing against the run, Stout isn't shying away.


"I feel like that's a big part of my game, getting dirty," he added. "I like when the violence comes."

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