49ers draft Louisiana Tech QB Driskel in sixth round
49ers draft Louisiana Tech QB Driskel in sixth round
The 49ers selected Louisiana Tech’s Jeff Driskel with a sixth-round pick Saturday, making him the first quarterback drafted from the college since the 49ers took Tim Rattay in the seventh round in 2000.
Driskel (6-foot-4, 234 pounds) transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he spent one season, after spending four seasons at Florida.
In 2015, he threw for 4,033 yards (62.3 completion percentage) with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
After briefly meeting with the 49ers at the combine, Driskel didn’t have contact with the team again until head coach Chip Kelly called about 30 minutes before he was drafted.
Driskel, who ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at the combine, was a five-star dual threat quarterback out of Hagerty (Fla.) High who drew comparisons to Florida legend Tim Tebow.
In 2012, as a sophomore, he led the Gators to an 11-2 record and Sugar Bowl berth, but his final two seasons were marked by injury and erratic performances.
In 2014, he completed just 54 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions before losing his job to freshman Treon Harris.
After leading a Louisiana Tech attack that employed no-huddle and zone reads, he thinks he could be a good fit in Kelly’s system.
“I think my pure athletic ability, my ability to throw on the run and the ability to get the ball out quick is something that will help me out in that offense,” Driskel said.
[...] it’s rare that quarterbacks selected in the sixth round succeed in the NFL.
Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Had 33 tackles, four pass break-ups and one INT in 20 games (8 starts) at LSU
Appalachian State
Of note: 2015 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year who had 53.5 tackles for loss and 21 sacks in 51-start career. …
Lacks ideal height, but could compensate with length (34-inch arms) and strength:
Of note: A four-year starter (48 starts) who was a first-team all-SEC pick and overall team captain as a senior. …
Held Penn State DE Carl Nassib, a third-round pick, without a sack or tackle in TaxSlayer Bowl win in January.
Junior-college transfer who started 26 games - 18 at right tackle - in his two seasons at Ole Miss. …
Won the Kent Hull Trophy, given to Mississippi’s college offensive lineman of the year. …
Began college career at Bowling Green.
Louisiana Tech
Began career at Florida, where he played 29 games (21 starts), completed 59.4 percent of his passed and had 23 TDs and 20 INTs. …
Threw for 4,033 yards in 2015, third-highest single-season total in school history.