How TO plans to help son Terique excel as 49ers UDFA originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Terique Owens has a tough road ahead of him to make the 49ers roster as an undrafted free agent, but he will have a lot help from his fatherTerrell Owens, along the way.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer and former 49ers wide receiver joined 95.7 The Game on Monday, where he explained how Terique has an “edge” on the competition if the young wide receiver follows his father’s advice.
“Number one, the physical attributes,” Terrell told “The Morning Roast” (Web Zone h/t 49ers) “You think of his long arms, just his size. He’s [listed at 6-3], 200 pounds. And like I did, he will get better, he will get bigger, he will get stronger. Obviously, it will get faster. Many people will probably fall asleep at his speed. We have actually been working on the fundamentals and basics of route running, transitioning, entering and exiting routes.
“Again, as far as playing ability goes, [it’s] has to come. After he resolves everything, he will go to camp [this] week. He has already started taking some online classes with [receivers] trainer [Leonard] Hankerson, just to fill me in on the plays, things of that nature, just some of the verbiage and some of the things I can really help with – understanding the routes and the formations.
“These are some of the things we all had to go through when we were rookies, and he’s going to go through it too. Then again, I already told him, with me as his father, it has nothing to do with it. it has to do with the ability to create plays or anything of that nature. I told him I like having the test answers, and then if he’s smart enough to really lean on me, he’ll have a foot and a leg above many. the competition.”
The 49ers signed Terique as UDFA following the 2024 NFL Draft, which also featured the sons of other 49ers legends such as Frank Gore and Jerry Rice. Jerry’s son Brenden was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round, while Frank Gore Jr. signed with the Buffalo Bills as a UDFA.
Terique began her college career in the Bay Area at Contra Costa College before transferring to Florida Atlantic University and Missouri State, where she spent the final three seasons of her NCAA career.
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound receiver caught 28 passes for 528 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, averaging 18.9 yards per reception, and also participated at the 49ers’ local pro day on April 10 at Levi’s Stadium. Terique’s last name, of course, is already well known in the Bay Area, where Terrell played his first eight NFL seasons with the 49ers, from 1996-2003.
While San Francisco must have seen potential in Terique during that pro day, his task of being part of the 49ers squad for the 2024 NFL season is tough, with a deep receiver room including Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, Trent Taylor, Danny Gray and Tay Martin, not to mention 24 draft picks , Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing.
But with her father by her side, Terique has the advantage of learning from the best, along with her new 49ers coaches.
“As far as my son is concerned, hey, if he can come in, learn the offense – and that’s what I told him first – learn everything first, and then his playmaking ability, that will take care of itself.” Terrell said. “Sometimes it’s not just about the most athletic. It’s about who knows more and who is more trustworthy.
“This will all happen on its own.”
