What anonymous scouts had to say about the 49ers’ draft class

De’Zhaun Stribling is a Day 3 WR prospect with an intriguing blend of size, athleticism, and every-down utility. Originally a three-star recruit from Hawaii, Stribling began his career with the Washington State Cougars and broke out as a true freshman. Across his first two collegiate seasons, he totaled 95 catches for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns, then transferred to Oklahoma State. He missed all but four games to a hand injury in his first season with the Cowboys, then went 52-882-6 in 2024, before closing out his career with a 55-811-6 campaign at Ole Miss. Along the way, Stribling earned a solid 78 PFSN WR Impact score, and the analytics paint an even better picture. Per TruMedia, Stribling boasted a meager 2% drop rate with the Rebels, as well as a near-10% catch rate over expectation, and 2.29 RAC yards over expectation per catch. Stribling produced from the get-go in college, and that early breakout tracks with his high-level tools. At 6’2”, 207 pounds, with near-32” arms and sub-4.4 speed, Stribling has a tantalizing size-speed profile on the vertical plane, as well as the combined catch radius and body control to make impressive high-difficulty catches at multiple ranges. Stribling’s route tree needs more development, but his non-elite hip fluidity and bend slightly reduces his ceiling in that department, and that could confine him to a rotational role at his maximum. Having said all this, Stribling has clear utility as a combined vertical and RAC threat with his speed, vision, physicality, and catch-point conversion, and he’s an excellent blocker as well. While he may never be a full-time starter, Stribling has a high-floor as a quality WR3 and rotational presence with niche receiving value and multi-phase utility.




