Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne makes 49ers' projected 53-man roster

The preseason is finished and roster spots have seemingly been won … and lost. There are not a lot of surprises when it comes to my projection, although Jarryd Hayne’s ascent from Australian rugby league star to NFL special-teams ace is remarkable. With 175 rushing yards on 25 carries, he finished as the preseason’s second-leading rusher … in the entire NFL … behind the Detroit Lions’ Zach Zenner, and Hayne's 7.0 yards-per-carry average led the league. He was third among all punt returners with 163 yards on 10 returns.

Here is a position-by-position look at who stays, who goes when the San Francisco 49ers make their final cuts.

QUARTERBACK (2)

Colin Kaepernick

Blaine Gabbert

Hopes were high in Santa Clara that undrafted rookie Dylan Thompson could carve out a roster spot. But his play against live competition -- albeit surrounded by a subpar cast -- left much to be desired. Perhaps he is headed for the practice squad.

RUNNING BACK (4)

Carlos Hyde

Reggie Bush

Mike Davis

Jarryd Hayne

Here is where I had my toughest cut. Kendall Hunter’s return from an ACL injury has been admirable, but in a numbers game, Hayne’s preseason as a returner carved out a spot, Bush showed he still has something left, Davis is a relatively high draft pick and Hyde has shown he’s the lead back, pure and simple. Maybe the Niners find a way to keep Hunter and his 4.6-yards-per-carry average by going short on another roster group, but Hunter’s lack of special-teams play could be the harbinger. Then again, maybe he shows up on the IR-designated to return list.

FULLBACK (1)

Bruce Miller

His legal issues are seemingly in the past after pleading no contest to misdemeanor disturbing the peace following his arrest on suspicion of spousal violence this offseason. But he still might he face league discipline. The Niners already waived Trey Millard, the only other fullback on the roster in training camp.

WIDE RECEIVER (5)

Anquan Boldin

Torrey Smith

Bruce Ellington

Quinton Patton

DeAndrew White

Jerome Simpson’s six-game suspension opens the door for undrafted rookie White, though White’s early camp performance, both as a receiver and a special-teams ace, probably knocked down that door.

TIGHT END (4)

Vernon Davis

Vance McDonald

Garrett Celek

Blake Bell

The training camp trade of Derek Carrier made this easier, though I do wonder whether the Niners could go with only three tight ends. And if that’s the case, who has the upper hand, the blocking McDonald or the pass-catching Celek? Bell is a draft pick who is a combo of both, even as a former quarterback.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8)

Joe Staley

Alex Boone

Marcus Martin

Jordan Devey

Erik Pears

Brandon Thomas

Trent Brown

Joe Looney

Projected starting center Daniel Kilgore is out at least six weeks on the PUP list and I thought about going nine deep here and adding Patrick Miller, since he’s the backup left tackle. But Boone could also move there in a pinch and I chose Looney over rookie Ian Silberman -- both can play center and guard -- because Silberman could go to the practice squad.

DEFENSIVE LINE (8)

Glenn Dorsey

Ian Williams

Quinton Dial

Darnell Dockett

Tank Carradine

Arik Armstead

Tony Jerod-Eddie

Mike Purcell

A feel-good story for Purcell, whose early preseason game play -- who can forget his 37-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys? -- earned him a spot on the 53-man roster. There’s a lot of versatility here, with most of these guys able to play both nose and end in the Niners’ 3-4 scheme. Good luck to Purcell and first-round draft pick Armstead getting active on game days, though.

LINEBACKER (8)

Corey Lemonier

NaVorro Bowman

Michael Wilhoite

Aaron Lynch

Eli Harold

Nick Moody

Shayne Skov

Nick Bellore

Here is where things get dicey. Where is Ahmad Brooks, you ask? Good question. The Niners have not officially suspended him in the wake of his facing misdemeanor charges for sexual battery, nor has the league. And no, I do not see the Niners cutting him. But he has been asked to stay away from the team and you get the sense that after missing two preseason games, he finds his way on some reserved/suspension list to save the Niners a roster spot. And as tough as it was to go with Bellore over Philip Wheeler, Bellore adds special-teams excellence. Wheeler could be a better fit than Skov, but Skov has already run first-team reps in Bowman’s place, while the injured Wheeler sat the first three exhibitions.

CORNERBACK (5)

Tramaine Brock

Kenneth Acker

Keith Reaser

Dontae Johnson

Shareece Wright

Yes, the second starter depends upon the health of Brock. But the three second-year guys in Acker, Reaser and Johnson have all impressed at one time or another. Keep an eye, though, on Wright as a potential dark-horse cut candidate after going from atop the depth chart entering camp to odd man out when it comes to the starters.

SAFETIES (5)

Antoine Bethea

Eric Reid

Jimmie Ward

Jaquiski Tartt

L.J. McCray

What, no Craig Dahl? McCray bringing the lumber on special teams beats out the veteran Dahl. Period.

SPECIALISTS (3)

PK Phil Dawson

P Bradley Pinion

LS Kyle Nelson

No surprises here. At all.

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