Winters using Warner and 49ers resources to seek bigger role originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA – He entered college as a wide receiver, but switched to defense at the coach’s suggestion.
Then-TCU linebacker Dee Winters spent a lot of time watching 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, studying and admiring his game, as he transitioned full-time to the other side of the ball.
So, of course, one of the first things that crossed Winters’ mind after getting the call from the 49ers during the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft was that he and Warner would become teammates.
Then, it happened.
Winters arrived at team headquarters for the first time and was pleasantly surprised.
“I walked into the locker room and he was coming out and he said, ‘Dee Winters!’ And I thought, ‘Wow,’” Winters said of his first meeting with Warner.
“I was a little fan in college. I was a little star struck at first. Coming in after watching him for three years in college. After that barrier was broken and I gained trust, we started talking a little more. It’s still happening.”
TCU coach Gary Patterson had a history of converting star high school offensive players into NFL-worthy defensive players, including pass-rusher Jerry Hughes and linebacker Ty Summers.
Winters was a prolific receiver at tiny Burton High, 85 miles west of Houston. He voluntarily moved full-time to defense because his coach argued it would give Winters his best opportunity to get on the field.
Winters quickly became a three-time captain at TCU and a prospect the 49ers knew could contribute early in his NFL career with his 4.49 speed in the 40-yard dash.
In fact, Winters was a key special teams contributor as a rookie. He played just 60 defensive snaps while appearing in 15 regular season games.
After one season, Winters has positioned himself with a strong off-season and a strong start to training camp for gain a significantly larger role in his second year in the league.
“When you go through your rookie year, sometimes things happen to guys and I think being behind guys like Dre (Greenlaw) and Fred, being able to watch how they operate,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He kind of cloned himself behind those guys, just the work ethic of being a professional and so connected and locked into everything.”
Warner is a three-time All-Pro whose value to the 49ers goes far beyond what he does on the field. Not only is he a vocal leader, but he also sets the tone for his teammates even when he doesn’t say a word.
“I could use it for every example,” Winters said. “He’s a guy who plays ball. He goes out there and makes plays. Everyone loves him. Why can’t it be me? It makes me want to implement those things into my game – making plays on the field and doing everything off the field.”
Winters has also done a lot since the moment he arrived in the NFL.
He received off-season praise from Warner, who commented that Winters may have been the 49ers’ best player all offseason.
“I feel like he’s come a long way since last year,” Warner said in June. “I remember he came in as a rookie and was struggling to learn the plays and trying to get in shape and all those little things you have to learn as a pro.”
When Winters proposed an interception in the end zone during the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp, Warner and Greenlaw were among those who reacted enthusiastically.
“I make a play and everyone gets excited,” Winters said. “It motivates me and makes other people want to make plays. It was definitely nice to be recognized by the vets and see them celebrating me.”
Although he was drafted as a linebacker, Winters primarily played nickel as part of TCU’s 3-3-5 defense. Upon arriving at the 49ers, he learned the challenges of playing in the box and facing attackers.
“My head was spinning every day, all day,” he said. “And then trying to balance my role and shadowing the vets, it was a lot. This year, I have a good sense of my role, what I need to do, how to be a professional and I’m looking up to Fred and all those guys.”
Winters said he believes he now has a good grasp of the defense and has made progress in recognizing offensive formations, reading keys and getting out of blocks. He doesn’t feel as overwhelmed in his second training camp as he did a year ago, he said.
“I came in with a lot of confidence,” Winters said. “Not everything is new to me. We continue executing the same scheme, the same parts. I think over time, getting those reps for a whole year and coming back, watching Fred and Dre consistently, gave me a lot of confidence to play fast. And I think that’s why I’m standing out now.”
The door is open for Winters to make an impact in the opening week of the regular season with Greenlaw expected to be at least a month away as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.
The veteran De’Vondre Campbell pickup is the main candidate to join Warner as starter during Greenlaw’s absence. At the very least, Winters can factor in when the 49ers are in their base defense.
“My time will come,” Winters said. “And I just have to capitalize on that when I get that opportunity.”
