SANTA CLARA – The 49ers have officially named their third cornerback, veteran Isaac Yiadom.
That means if the 49ers deploy their nickel defense, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir will move to the slot and Yiadom will play on the outside opposite Charvarius Ward. At least at first. The 49ers also drafted cornerback Renardo Green in Round 2, and he’s ready to replace Yiadom if he struggles.
On Friday, defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen was asked why Yiadom was chosen over Green. Sorensen responded:
“When I see him and what he’s done, I think the coolest thing is he’s a self-made man. He’s a worker. And I have a lot of respect for guys like that. Because everyone I’ve ever played with or coached is really good, they usually work really hard. Of course there’s talent. You can’t make it in the NFL unless you have God-given ability. But to sustain a long career or become an elite player, these guys usually work their asses off. I see that in him, so it doesn’t surprise me. That’s the cool thing about Ike, you see how serious he is, and that’s just been consistent in my many years in the NFL, both with teammates and players that I’ve coached. It’s usually not a surprise and it’s not a coincidence when these guys become what they become. I think he, maybe the surprising part would be, did he just figure it out later?”
