NFL Draft roundup: 49ers keep calling on the Gamecocks

The San Francisco 49ers’ fondness for South Carolina players hasn’t stopped yet.

The 49ers, who have selected Marcus Lattimore and Bruce Ellington in the past two seasons, took a Gamecock in the NFL Draft for the third straight season Saturday. Two, in fact, and then they signed quarterback Dylan Thompson to a free agency deal after the event.

“They just came for the whole crew, I guess. It’s insane,” Thompson told The State. “It’s going to be awesome going out there and playing with my teammates.”

San Francisco picked running back Mike Davis in the fourth round, with pick No. 126, and tight end Rory Anderson in the seventh round, with pick No. 254. Offensive lineman Corey Robinson was selected in the seventh round, No. 240 overall, by the Detroit Lions.

“We did have a lot of players go to the 49ers,” Robinson said. “I am happy for everybody.”

Thompson impressed the 49ers at South Carolina’s Pro Day in April and has been in regular contact with the team since, he said.

“I had talked to the quarterbacks coach out there three or four times,” Thompson said. “I thought there was a chance for them to draft me today. Near the end of the draft, they kept calling me and my agent to see what was going on. Then, when their last pick passed and they didn’t pick me, I was like, ‘I am sure they are going to want me in free agency.’ They called me the second the draft ended. They said I was the No. 1 guy on the board to go get.”

Thompson (6-foot-3, 218 pounds) set South Carolina’s single-season passing record last year with 3,574 yards. He will join Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert as the only three quarterbacks currently on the 49ers roster.

“I have a really good chance out there,” he said.

Davis (5-9, 217) rushed for 2,440 yards on 454 carries in three seasons at South Carolina.

“I’m happy and relieved to get the call,” Davis told San Francisco media members in conference call shortly after his selection. “I would love to be considered as a power back, but a guy who can catch the ball out of the backfield.”

Robinson thought he might be picked before the seventh round, but by the end of the day, he was happy to be a professional football player.

“I feel great,” he said. “It was a rough day, but in the end God made a way. I am glad. I definitely thought the Lions were in the mix. I had met with the offensive line coach, and it was a good vibe between me and him.”

Wide receiver Damiere Byrd tweeted that he was headed to the Carolina Panthers, while receiver Nick Jones tweeted “Cleveland !!!” suggesting a free-agent tryout with the Browns.

Defensive tackle J.T. Surratt was not selected, and no free agent deal was announced as of late Saturday.

This story was originally published May 2, 2015 at 7:03 PM with the headline "NFL Draft roundup: 49ers keep calling on the Gamecocks."