Draft Scout Snapshot:DS Rating on 9/1/09: #6 TE, #108/750 Overall, Projected Rd: 4 2009 East-West Shrine Invite…2008: 13 GP; 12 GS; Rec: 19-262-13.8-1; All-Big East (first team). 2007: 11 GP; 11 GS; Rec: 14-211-15.1-1; 1 Sol-1 TT; Missed the season finale against West Virginia due to a left knee injury (sustained the week prior vs. USF). 2006: 11 GP; 1 GS; Rec: 2-34-17-1; Lettered as a true freshman, contributing as a reserve tight end…made his collegiate debut with a starting assignment vs. Virginia as Pitt opened in a two-tight end set…did not play against Michigan State.
Post-Draft Outlook: A closer look at the 49ers' picks: Round 6/182 -- Nate Byham, TE, 6-4, 268, Pittsburgh: The 49ers kept just two tight ends on the roster last season because they did not have a blocking specialist. That should change with the addition of Byham, who takes pride in his physical style. - by The Sports Xchange
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Draft Scout Nate Byham News
09/01/10 - TE Nate Byham seems to have edged out the competition to be the No. 3 tight end. The fact that the rookie also can play fullback is not good news for backup fullback Brit Miller.
08/19/10 - TE Nate Byham missed another practice because of an undisclosed illness. Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye had praised Byham's progress, specifically as a blocker, on Wednesday.
"Well, we saw some semblance of it in the spring of the year," Raye said. "Usually you can tell about a young guy when he is not in pads and it's an up-tempo drill, he showed no back down and he didn't have pads on so you wouldn't know if it would transfer. Usually if a guy without pads will do the same things with his hat and his head without pads on that he does with pads on, it's a pretty good sign. He has been nicked up some, but to this point he has been pretty good in that area in terms of inline blocking, and he has the ability also to play a little bit in the backfield as a fullback. So the position has created a good opportunity for him if he keeps developing."
07/09/10 - TE Nate Byham, a sixth-round pick from Pitt, agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $3.304 million, according to the National Football Post.
Byam will get a signing bonus of more than $106,000. He is a pure blocking tight end, which is something the 49ers roster lacked for all of 2009.
The team tried to add one in the draft a year ago, nabbing Bear Pascoe out of Fresno State in the sixth round. But Pascoe fizzled in training camp and was among the final cuts.
So when the 49ers needed a third tight end last season, they leaned on Tony Wragge -- a guard by trade. Now, Byham, who will try to do what Pascoe could not.
The 6-foot-4, 268-pounder relishes the dirty work. During the OTAs in May, Byham made a few grabs in traffic and looked like a capable receiver. But even he knows he'll be a one-dimensional, blocking tight end.
Let Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker handle the glamorous stuff and Byham will do the rest.
"I like to bloody noses. I don't shy away from contact," the sixth-round pick said on draft day. "I'm going into the hole and I'm trying to hit somebody. I think that's what makes me unique.
"There's not too many tight ends these days that want to go in there and try to hurt somebody. I'm trying to inflict pain when I'm in there as a tight end. I'm not trying to get in someone's way. I'm excited to be a part of the hard-nose offense."
Byham was a blocking tight end for the Panthers, earning all second-team Big East honors despite catching only 10 passes all season. He was a masher who could knock defenders off the ball and create space for his backs. His head coach, Dave Wannstedt, emphasized the ground game and Byham was a ideal match.
"We've always prided ourselves in being able to run the ball," Byham said, "and I always pride myself on making holes for great running backs."
06/03/10 - TE Nate Byham, a sixth-round pick from Pittsburgh, is a pure blocking tight end, which is something the 49ers roster lacked for all of 2009.
The team tried to add one in the draft a year ago, nabbing Bear Pascoe out of Fresno State in the sixth round. But Pascoe fizzled in training camp and was among the final cuts.
So when the 49ers needed a third tight end last season, they leaned on Tony Wragge -- a guard by trade. Now, Byham, who will try to do what Pascoe could not.
The 6-foot-4, 268-pounder relishes the dirty work. During the OTAs in May, Byham made a few grabs in traffic and looked like a capable receiver. But even he knows he'll be a one-dimensional, blocking tight end.
Let Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker handle the glamorous stuff and Byham will do the rest.
"I like to bloody noses. I don't shy away from contact," the sixth-round pick said on draft day. "I'm going into the hole and I'm trying to hit somebody. I think that's what makes me unique.
"There's not too many tight ends these days that want to go in there and try to hurt somebody. I'm trying to inflict pain when I'm in there as a tight end. I'm not trying to get in someone's way. I'm excited to be a part of the hard-nose offense."
Byham was a blocking tight end for the Panthers, earning all second-team Big East honors despite catching only 10 passes all season. He was a masher who could knock defenders off the ball and create space for his backs. His head coach, Dave Wannstedt, emphasized the ground game and Byham was a ideal match.
"We've always prided ourselves in being able to run the ball," Byham said, "and I always pride myself on making holes for great running backs."
05/03/10 - TE Nate Byham (6/173), Pittsburgh: The 49ers kept just two tight ends on the roster last season because they did not have a blocking specialist. That should change with the addition of Byham, who takes pride in his physical style.
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