The 49ers are expecting to have several red-shirt draft picks from past years not only try to crack the 53-man roster in 2015, but earn a role on the field for many Sundays to come.
One player in particular is the highly versatile Trey Millard, a tailback and special teams player out of Oklahoma.
Coming off an ACL tear suffered in college in October 2013, Millard feels good running sprints and apparently looks faster than ever.
"That's what guys have said, that I look a lot faster this year," Millard told 49ers.com.
[MAIOCCO: 49ers draft Oklahoma FB Trey Millard]
"I think part of that is the offseason training and all that stuff, but the first day I started running routes, Vernon [Davis] said something about the haircut and me being faster because of it.
"He went through the same process except he was a little faster to start with," Millard said about the tight end, Davis, who sported shoulder-length dreadlocks during the first half of his NFL career.
Millard is no ordinary fullback either, as the 6-foot-2, 247-pounder out of Oklahoma earned a one of the 256 draft slots, despite his position and knee injury.
Millard rushed for 578 yards and six rushing touchdowns for the Sooners, and also reeled in 70 passes for 677 receiving yards and added seven more touchdowns in the air.
The 49ers' athletic back spent his rookie campaign on the Non-Football Injury list.
[MAIOCCO: 49ers haven't gotten much from 'redshirt' picks ... yet]
He participated in OTAs and minicamps this offseason under new head coach Jim Tomsula and is eager to show what he can do once the pads are on.
"We'll have to see once people are able to tackle," Millard said in regards to his physical state. "Right now I'm trying to get back into it and working on the little things. It'll take some time to get back to that, but I'm just excited about the opportunity.
"I think there's a lot of positive energy around the team. Guys are really buying into the system. It's exciting to see what we can do this year."
Millard is the only other listed fullback on the roster behind starter Bruce Miller.
49ers Insider Matt Maiocco's take: Millard is a versatile player whose chances of sticking with the team could hinge on his play on special teams. Even if he does not make the 53-man roster, Millard figures to have a strong chance of remaining on the practice squad.
