If we learned one thing from the San Francisco 49ers' offseason workout program, it's this: Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne's best shot at making the team is on special teams.
As a returner.
Hayne, who is also plying his trade as a running back, split time fielding kicks during organized team activities and minicamp with veteran Reggie Bush and the offseason depth chart reflects as much, even if second-year man Bruce Ellington figures to join the fight once training camp begins and his nagging leg injury that kept him out of offseason practices heals.
A year ago, Ellington was the team's leading returner. He averaged 8.2 yards on 23 punt returns with 12 fair catches and also had 24 kick returns for 614 yards, averaging 25.6 yards.
Of the three other Niners -- Carlos Hyde, Perrish Cox, Trindon Holliday -- who returned at least two punts or kickoffs, respectively, only one player remains on the roster -- Hyde, who had 11 kick returns for 268 yards.
So yeah, there is room for Hayne to make a mark for himself as a returner.
"You know what, he's starting to get it," coach Jim Tomsula said of Hayne. "You saw him catching punts at the end. The guy's a, he's a world-class athlete.
"He is catching some kickoffs. But, the punts right now, he's been doing it all his life [in rugby]. And you can tell that ... he and Reggie, really two guys that are really solid, really good at fielding that ball."
The offseason special teams depth chart can be found here.
The offseason offensive depth chart can be found here.
And the offseason defensive depth chart can be found here.
