Colin Kaepernick: 49ers signee Jarryd Hayne is a 'phenomenal athlete'
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick told the Sacramento Bee that recent signee Jarryd Hayne is a "phenomenal athlete."
Hayne is a former MVP of the National Rugby League who quit the sport in October to pursue a NFL career. He signed with the 49ers last month and has been working out with Kaepernick and others at EXOS training facility in Phoenix, Ariz.
"Phenomenal athlete. Just a natural," Kaepernick said of Hayne. "Since the day I met him, since every workout he's been at, he's going to give you everything he has. And it doesn't seem like there's going to be much of a learning curve for him."
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The 27-year-old Hayne was named the National Rugby League Player of the Year in both 2009 and 2014. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hayne recorded 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash at his pro day in December.
He's listed as a running back on San Francisco's roster.
"This is going to be a football player," Kaepernick said. "He does a lot of things very well and it's going to be our job to be able to utilize him and put him in position to allow him to make plays and use that athleticism."
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In October 2014, 49ers running back Reggie Bushsaid he believes Hayne has the skills to play in the NFL.
- Molly Geary
