Jaden Dugger has begun building confidence after making his NFL debut for the San Francisco 49ers, earning praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan following the team’s opening victory of the season.
The rookie linebacker featured in the 49ers’ 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, recording five tackles in his first regular-season appearance.
Dugger, selected by San Francisco with the 154th pick in this year’s NFL Draft, spoke about settling into the demands of professional football and growing more comfortable on the field.
The 22-year-old’s performance drew the attention of Shanahan, who has been impressed by the progress of the former Louisiana defender during his early weeks with the team.
Dugger began his college career as a safety before moving to linebacker and edge rusher. He finished his final season at Louisiana with 125 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and four sacks, helping earn first-team All-Sun Belt honours.
Alongside his development on the field, Dugger has also been getting acquainted with life on the west coast. He discussed the possibility of sampling some of the region’s food, including authentic Mexican cuisine, as he settles into his new surroundings.
