49ers hope CB Culliver finds a home in San Francisco

Chris Culliver played multiple positions during his four-year career at South Carolina.

The 49ers hope he can master one spot – cornerback – in his NFL career, which was launched when San Francisco took him with its third-round pick today.

Culliver (6-0, 200) began his career at South Carolina as a wide receiver, moved to free safety as a sophomore and eventually settled in at cornerback as a senior. But he didn’t get too comfortable in his new spot. After seven games, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle, which ended his season.

He had a pre-draft visit with the Niners earlier this month and said the team envisions him as a cornerback at the next level. The 49ers are clearly intrigued by Culliver’s athleticism – his 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was tied for the third-fastest among cornerbacks and his vertical jump (38 5/8 inches) was tied for the second-best mark.

On the NFL Network, draft analyst Mike Mayock said he viewed Culliver as a sixth-round pick shortly after the pick was announced.

“I was definitely surprised,” Culliver said. “But Jim Harbaugh definitely told he was interested in me. And I’m definitely glad I took the trip up there.”

Culliver is something more than a workout warrior.

After earning second-team All-SEC honors at free safety his junior season (62 tackles, 2 sacks), Culliver was a preseason All-American in 2010. In his only seven games at cornerback, he had two pass breakups and didn’t have an interception. Culliver had three interceptions in his three seasons in the Gamecocks’ secondary, none in his final two years.

“I feel like I could definitely develop into a good corner,” Culliver said. “… I know I don’t have a lot of years experience like other guys at corner, but I definitely feel like I could develop and be a better player in that role.”

Culliver could be in the mix to return kickoffs for the 49ers. Culliver ranks third in SEC history in kickoff returns (106) and kickoff return yards (2,476), averaging 23.3 yards per return during his career.

• National Football Post draft analyst Wes Bunting was a fan of the Culliver selection.

Here’s Bunting, via Twitter, “I like 49ers pick Chris Culliver, can really run, fluid, gifted athlete, will struggle with instincts, but lots of upside.”

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