Chris

Owusu

Owusu went undrafted after suffering three concussions in a 13-month span at Stanford. He is an explosive athlete with 4.36 speed at 6-foot, 196, and knows Jim Harbaugh’s offense. Owusu is joining a crowded receiver corps in San Francisco, however. He’ll have to be lights out to avoid the practice squad.

Owusu has received NFL medical clearance, but teams are still gravely worried about his three concussions in a 13-month span. “He’s off our board,” the GM said. “He was from the start. It wouldn’t matter if he was RG3, he’d still be off our board. With that kind of history it’s not worth the risk of him being seriously injured, especially with all the attention you’re going to receive. If you draft him you’re going to be under the microscope the whole time. Every time he gets hit it’s going to be magnified tenfold.”

At 6-foot and 196 pounds, Owusu burned up the track and also had the third best vertical jump among wide receivers at 40 1/2 inches. A highly productive return specialist at Stanford and Andrew Luck’s top wide receiver as a junior, Owusu missed a chunk of his senior season due to repeated concussions. He had three of them in a 13-month span. Profootballtalk.com reported in late January that Owusu has been medically cleared, but NFL teams will be cautious.

An emerging star with early-round NFL grades as a junior, Owusu had three documented concussions in a 13-month span. “If he was the player he was three years ago, I’d be excited,” the GM said. “This year I didn’t see it. I don’t really know who he is.” Despite receiving medical clearance and running a 4.36 forty at the Combine, Owusu is at risk of going undrafted.

Owusu almost certainly would have been drafted if not for his concussion history at Stanford, and reportedly turned down several offers to reunite with college coach Jim Harbaugh. Working against Owusu is the fact he doesn’t have a clear path to playing time. He’ll likely be competing with Randy Moss, Kyle Williams and Ted Ginn Jr. to avoid the practice squad.

Owusu was among the 49ers’ final cuts, but remains an intriguing flier. With Vincent Brown (fractured ankle) expected to miss six weeks, the Chargers lack quality depth behind Malcom Floyd and Robert Meachem. If injures were to occur, it’s not unrealistic to think Owusu could contribute at some point this season.

Owusu reportedly looked “much quicker in and out of his breaks” than first-round pick A.J. Jenkins in a recent agility drill. However, Pro Football Weekly reports “a lot of Stanford observers” believe Owusu “could be one of these guys who looks a lot better in shorts than in games.” Even if that’s the case, Owusu would have been drafted if not for his concussion history. His connection with coach Jim Harbaugh could give him an inside track on a roster spot.

Among the 49ers’ final cuts, Owusu was signed off the Chargers’ practice squad. At one time considered a potential early-round prospect, Owusu went undrafted after a concussion-marred senior season at Stanford, but ran a 4.36 40 at the Combine. He caught five passes for 43 yards during the preseason. It’s not outside the realm of possibility Owusu eventually contributes for a Bucs team that is remaking its receiver corps.

Owusu was the league’s highest-paid practice squad player. The Stanford product ran a 4.36 at 6'0/196 at the Combine and would have been drafted in 2012 if not for concussion issues. Owusu is an immediate candidate to contribute as a third wideout with Kevin Ogletree cut.

Speedy Owusu has been Tampa Bay’s No. 3 receiver since Mike Williams hit injured reserve. He is a deep Dynasty league flier only.