Francisco 49ers superstar linebacker Fred Warner really likes what he sees from cornerback Upton Stout.
In an interview with KNBR hosts Greg Silver and John Dickinson, Warner was pointedly asked to pick a standout player from the 49ers defensive rookie class.
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“I’m looking at Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, Upton Stout, CJ West, and Nick Martin. They all seem like they have that dawg. Who’s the biggest dawg in the shed among that group?” Warner was asked.
Warner picked Stout, 23, out of that very talented class of 49ers first-year players.
“Right now the guy sticking out the most is Upton Stout. Probably the smallest dawg in the fight, with the biggest dawg in here,” Warner said, while tapping his heart (h/t @Coach_Yac). “I love watching Upton and the way he competes at the nickel position…the guy has it.”
KNBR host: “I’m looking at Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, Upton Stout, CJ West, and Nick Martin. They all seem like they have that dawg. Who’s the biggest dawg in the shed among that group?”
Fred Warner: “Right now the guy sticking out the most is Upton Stout. Probably the… pic.twitter.com/JCEU9DrVHa
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 5, 2025
Stout is expected to be a Day 1 starter for the 49ers at the nickel cornerback position. So hearing that he is impressing someone like Warner, who knows what it takes to be one of the best defensive players in football, is a great sign for Niners fans.
All About Upton Stout
Upton Stout knows what it takes to win championships.
In high school, he helped North Shore Senior High School win back-to-back Texas 6A-1 State Championships in 2018 and 2019.
But despite his championship pedigree, he was only a three-star recruit coming out of high school. So instead of going to a Power 5 school, Stout committed to play for the North Texas Mean Green.
Midway through his freshman season at North Texas in 2020, Stout became a starter. His impact was immediately felt, as he recorded 11 tackles in his first start versus Southern Miss on October 3, 2020. That was good for second on the team.
Stout recorded 35 total tackles in 2020. But for whatever reason, Stout played in only 4 games in 2021 and had only six tackles. So, he redshirted and entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Ahead of the 2022 season, Stout transferred to Western Kentucky. He had a starring role in three seasons there, culminating in being named first team All-Conference USA in 2024 after a season in which he amassed 53 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.
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Stout has been consistently underestimated throughout his football career because, as Warner alluded to, he is small in stature. Stout stands at only 5’9’’ tall and 181 pounds.
But he ran a speedy 4.44 40 yard dash and showcased a great blend of athleticism and strength at the NFL combine. So the 49ers chose him in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft, with the 100th overall pick.
He was the fourth player the 49ers selected, after Williams, Collins and Martin.
Stout Learning From K’Waun Williams
K’Waun Williams was the last great 49ers nickelback. 49ers coaches always use him as an example of a player that thrived in their defensive scheme, which made a quick impression on Stout.
So without being told, Stout reached out to K’Waun Williams on social media to pick his brain and learn from him about playing nickel CB for the 49ers.
“Really just trying to figure out how to be the best me, but also knowing what the standard was before I came and see if I can surpass that standard,” Stout said during a post-camp press conference about reaching out to Williams (h/t @Coach_Yac).
Upton Stout talks about reaching out to former 49ers NCB K’Waun Williams:
“Reaching out to him just so I can pick his brain to see how he played a lot of concepts, technique, and things like that. Really just trying to figure out how to be the best me, but also knowing what the… pic.twitter.com/iVaDUNY1Vj
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 4, 2025
If Stout can surpass what Williams did in his five seasons in San Francisco, the rest of the NFL is in trouble.
49ers fans, are you excited to see Upton Stout take the field for the 49ers in 2025?