Undrafted WR Chris Owusu Impresses at 49ers Rookie Minicamp

Chris Owusu is one of the most compelling stories among the 2012 undrafted free agents for at least two reasons.

His three concussions in 13 months have made him central in the head-injury issue that threatens to engulf the game of football, even though he doesn't want to be "part of this conversation," as he put it.

No one would spend a pick on Owusu, but his former college coach Jim Harbaugh brought him into the 49ers' fold, creating another compelling subplot. Last week at the team's mini camp, Owusu let his play tell the story.

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle called Owusu's 4.36 speed "undeniable." Lynch wrote that he looked faster than first-round WR AJ Jenkins and second-round RB LaMichael James, who are both known for their speed. Lynch said Owusu "looks the part" and noted that the sharpness in Owusu's breaks turned a few DBs around. The report from Lynch did note that Owusu "dropped a pass or two."

Lynch wasn't alone.

CBS Sports' Kyle Bonagura tweeted that Owusu "looked good." Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee wrote that Owusu was "as fast as advertised, but bigger than expected." Barrows also noted that Owusu was one of the few rookies ready for the breakneck pace of Harbaugh's practices—a pace that quickly wore down most of his fellow rookies. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com wrote that Owusu had a "strong first day" at the minicamp.

Not all of the reviews were completely positive.

Grant Cohn of the Santa Clara Press Democrat started his report by stating that Owusu "outclassed" Jenkins at times by beating him in a race of 20-yard figure-eights, even going as far as saying you might have thought Owusu was the first-round pick at that moment.

Cohn's tone changes when the players get to catching passes and running routes, which made it "obvious which guy was the first-rounder," because Jenkins caught almost everything thrown to him, regardless of ball location, while Owusu dropped "several passes that were right to him."

Mark Emmons of the San Jose Mercury-News noted that Owusu "has to overcome a reputation for not having great hands."

Even if Owusu's unreliable hands get him cut from a 49ers team with an already crowded WR corps, six-foot-tall WRs who can run under 4.4 don't grow on trees. Another team will give him a shot, and more importantly for Owusu, at least the talk about him will be about something other than concussions.