INSIDE SCOOP: "Colton McKivitz Looks Like a Future Starter"

A few months ago, former West Virginia offensive tackle Colton McKivitz was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

As a senior in 2019, McKivitz made the switch from right tackle to left tackle replacing Yodny Cajuste and the move paid off in big dividends. McKivitz went on to win Co-Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year and also earned First-Team All-Big 12 and AP Third-Team All-America honors.

Now, he will be making another switch as the 49ers have kicked him inside, where it seems like he will have more value compared to being used at tackle. Sports Illustrated's 49ers insider Grant Cohn provided Mountaineer Maven with an update on how McKivitz has fared thus far in training camp.

"So far McKivitz is the second-string left guard and he looks good. He's had some good battles with rookie first-round pick Javon Kinlaw, and Kinlaw has gotten the best of those battles, but McKivitz has held his own. Looks like he could be a future starter."

Despite McKivitz playing much of his collegiate career at offensive tackle, it doesn't appear that he will be given much of an opportunity at the position in the NFL, at least not with the 49ers.

"I think they're pretty set on him playing guard," Cohn said. "They have him at left guard behind starter Laken Tomlinson, who is signed through 2021. So McKivitz could become the starting left guard by 2022. Or, he could move to right guard before then. The 49ers currently have a competition at right guard between Daniel Brunskill and Tom Compton. If neither plays well, McKivitz could enter the competition, but that's down the line."

McKivitz was one of two former Mountaineers drafted in this year's draft, joining Kenny Robinson, who went to the Carolina Panthers.

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