The NFL season is unfortunately approac

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hing its end (insert frowning face here). As it winds down we will continue to ramp up our look at some of the top offensive and defensive prospects heading into the offseason. We’ve already given you guys a glimpse into some key positions of interest for San Francisco - this installment will provide us with some insight into the top safeties in college football. Let us know what you think in the comments below!Deionte Thompson - Alabama , S, No. 14 - Height: 6’2” | Weight: 196 lbs. | Projected 40 time: 4.46Deionte Thompson has been one of college football’s breakout players in 2018, and multiple pro team sources are raving about him -they’re even going as far to say that a first-round buzz is building around him. In 2018, he has two interceptions, five passes broken up, three forced fumbles and 71 tackles. Thompson has displayed excellent range to cover a lot of ground in the deep part of the field and nice instincts. With his size, speed, and IQ, Thompson could be a free safety. A true single high safety to lock down the deep part of the field is a rare commodity to find, and Thompson could be that as a pro. Thompson was a backup to Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison as a junior. Over limited playing time last season, Thompson recorded 27 tackles, four passes broken up and two interceptions. The 6-foot-2, 196-pounder has a big-time skill set and could be a fast riser during the 2019 NFL Draft process. As we all know San Francisco is looking for more depth in the secondary and if they rattle off a few wins to end the season they may slide back in the draft which, in turn, could lend them an importunity to consider Thompson.Juan Thornhill - Virginia, S, No. 21 - Height: 6’0” | Weight: 210 lbs. | Projected 40 time: 4.48A prospect who has potential to sneak into the middle parts of the second round, Thornhill excels in coverage from a variety of techniques. He has a natural feel in zone for coverage spacing and working into throwing windows while also effective in man coverage where his length and physicality will serve him well working against tight ends and bigger slots. There are some matchups in the slot, mainly against quicker receivers, that could be problematic for Thornhill in man coverage but he has the physical traits to lineup with flexed tight ends and big-bodied possession receivers. Thornhill is a strong tackler and plays the game with a physical demeanor as he works through contact. He has the contact power expected for his size. He can win near the line of scrimmage and offers the traits needed to function as a box safety. Jonathan Abram, S, No. 38 - Mississippi State - Height: 6’1” | Weight: 200 Projected | 40: 4.41More and more people are realizing that Jonathan Abram is a really solid player who has starter potential. Abram has 93 tackles with two interceptions, five passes broken up , 2.5 sacks, and 7.5 tackles for a loss so far in 2018. Sources have been impressed with Abram this season and say he plays the game the right way. He is a physical enforcer in the middle of the field who is a good run defender and functional in pass coverage. One source said that Abram reminds him of former Texas A&M safety Justin Evans, a second-round pick of Tampa Bay in the 2017 NFL Draft. Expect Abram to be selected anywhere between the end of round two and the beginning of round four, depending on how combine season goes for him.Taylor Rapp, S, No. 21 - Washington - Height: 6’0” | Weight: 207 lbs. | Projected 40 time: 4.50Rapp has 59 tackles with five sacks, four passes broken up and two interceptions thus far this year and has helped lead an impressive Washington Huskies defense. Rapp was a solid defender for Washington as a sophomore. In 2017, he totaled 59 tackles with two sacks and one interception. Rapp played well as a freshman for the Huskies in 2016 and performed well as the strong safety next to Budda Baker. Rapp totaled 53 tackles with two passes broken up, one forced fumble and four interceptions that season. Rapp is a quality strong safety who needs to impress with cover skills in 2018. The folks over at NFL Draft Geek had this to say about Rapp’s draft projection:Taylor Rapp could provide some awesome value for the 49ers if they feel led to spend a second-day draft pick on some much-needed depth for the secondary. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, No. 23 - Florida - Height: 6’0” | Weight: 207 lbs | Projected 40 time: 4.53The 49ers are young in the secondary but the clock is ticking for several players - the likes of Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt have proven to be solid defenders but the jury’s still out on whether or not they can be effective starters for years to come; Ward is more of a wildcard when it comes to figuring his position out and Tartt still needs to prove that he can be a top safety in the league. Chauncey Gardner would provide depth at a position with question marks and seeing him line up next to Adrian Colbert would be quite fun for 49ers fans. Gardner is a converted corner-turned-safety so the growing pains showed early - as he’s gotten more comfortable, though, he has shown potential to be one of the elite prospects in next year’s draft. Gardner-Johnson has 66 tackles, nine for a loss, three sacks, two passes broken up and two interceptions in 2018 from mainly playing slot cornerback for the Gators. He has played well overall for them and has been a productive presence in the middle of the field. Gardner-Johnson is a solid tackler and has turned into an aggressive run defender. SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan arrived as head coaches in the NFC West together last year as longtime friends and colleagues tasked with revitalizing struggling franchises.McVay has done a much quicker job overhauling the Los Angeles Rams than Shanahan has with the San Francisco 49ers. The teams headed in opposite directions meet for the first time this season on Sunday when the Rams (6-0) hope to remain the NFL's only unbeaten team when they visit the struggling 49ers (1-5).McVay credits Shanahan for his success, pointing to his four years as an assistant in Washington when Shanahan was offensive coordinator for much of his development. "I wouldn't really say it was a give and take," McVay said. "It was more me taking information from him, and him a lot of giving. I think more than anything, just being committed to an identity. The way he prepared was so impressive. The way that he saw the game. His ability to make things look the same and attack defensive structures and rules and manipulate those. He's a great coach. I learned so much from him."That knowledge has helped McVay build one of the NFL's top teams with a dynamic offense led by quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley that ranks third in scoring (32.7 points per game) and second in yards per play (7.16) after winning the NFC West last season.The Niners haven't had nearly as much success, winning just six games last year and struggling mightily this year after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3.San Francisco showed glimpses of becoming what Shanahan envisioned with five straight wins to end last season with Garoppolo at quarterback, but the team has a 1-13 record under Shanahan when either Brian Hoyer or C.J. Beathard starts.Beathard has shown improvement in his second year , leading San Francisco to back-to-back 400-yard games, but his seven turnovers in three starts contributed to the losses.While the results have been different and the teams take slightly divergent approaches — the Rams preferring three-receiver sets and the 49ers relying more on a two-back offense with fullback Kyle Juszczyk — both coaches have taken what they did together in Washington to their current teams."He's a good coach and a real good friend. We got to put a lot of that stuff in together," Shanahan said. "Just like you do everywhere and everyone you work with, you're always a product of your environment. You carry things over, you change a few things. We've both gone some different directions over the last few years, but when you do turn on the tape it's very similar."Here are some other things to watch:TAKE THE TOP OFFHaving a healthy Marquise Goodwin last week provided a big boost to San Francisco's offense. He made four catches for 126 yards, including touchdowns of 67 and 30 yards in the first half. Perhaps even more importantly, his sprinter's speed forces defenses to provide help in coverage, opening up holes in the running game and opportunities for other receivers."Guys are respecting his speed, and you've got to respect his speed," Beathard said. "He can take the tops off of coverages, so it definitely helps having him out there."GOOD GURLEYGurley is off to a scintillating start with 870 yards from scrimmage and 11 TDs through six games. Since the merger in 1970, only two other players have reached those marks in six games: Priest Holmes for Kansas City in 2002, Emmitt Smith for Dallas in 1995. Gurley ran for 208 yards and two TDs last week in Denver. Gurley had 149 yards from scrimmage and three TDs in his only game against the Niners last year.RUN TO DAYLIGHTRaheem Mostert had just 13 carries since entering the NFL in 2015 before having a breakthrough performance last week for the 49ers. Mostert carried 12 times for 87 yards at Green Bay, forming a potent rushing duo with Matt Breida. San Francisco ranks third in rushing with 142.5 yards per game and a 5.12 average per carry.FAMILY AFFAIRThe 49ers are hosting alumni weekend and will be wearing 1994 throwback jerseys to honor their last Super Bowl championship team. That team means a lot to McVay, whose grandfather, John, helped build the 49ers dynasty as general manager. Sean McVay listed several of his favorite players from that era, including Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Dexter Carter and Merton Hanks. He also said he had a Deion Sanders jersey from that 1994 season."It's always weird going against them," he said. "But you feel so fortunate just to have the family history my grandpa established and developed."

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