Charlotte 49ers Alex Highsmith and Cameron Clark were selected in the third and fourth rounds of the NFL Draft, respectively. Highsmith, a defensive end, was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clark, an offensive lineman, by the New York Jets.
Running back Bennie LeMay signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent.
From walk-on to record-holder to the NFL, Highsmith became the third 49er ever chosen in the NFL Draft.
"It was just so surreal," said Highsmith, who was drafted just before midnight Friday. "It will be a night I'll never forget. It was a long night, being one of the last four picks of the night, but it was just a great night."
Highsmith, who became the 49ers all-time sack leader this past year and was named third team all-America by the Associated Press after leading Charlotte to its first-ever bowl bid, was the 102nd overall pick. The former walk-on is a two-time First Team All-Conference USA selection and owns school records for sacks in a game (4.5), season (14.0) and career (20.0) and tackles for loss (TFL) in a game (5.0) and season (21.5). He ranked fourth in the nation in sacks (14.0) and fifth in TFL (21.5), this past year, while leading the 49ers to a school-record seven wins and a trip to the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. tabbed Highsmith as the best pick of the third round.
“Alex Highsmith is a pass rusher coming off the edge with an attitude,” Kiper said. "He's a walk-on. He has that chip and is always trying to prove everybody wrong—doubters and skeptics. That's the kind of guy the Steelers like. Highly motivated player.”
Taken in the fourth round as the 129th overall pick, Clark became the 49ers all-time games played leader this past year and was named first team All-C-USA by the league’s coaches. He anchored an offensive line that led C-USA in rushing (203.0 yds/gm) and completed his career with a school-record 49 games played. He started 31 consecutive games, including the program’s appearance in the 2019 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, to close out his career. In 2019, he helped the 49ers to a school-record seven wins, a school-record five C-USA wins and a trip to the program’s first bowl game.
LeMay, the third 49er to join the NFL this year, said, “I just want to solidify myself—put down a good foundation that I can build on and continue to grind and get better. It’s really just all about getting in to be a part of the team and working on consistency and efficiency in blocking and utilizing my hands outside of the backfield. I’m just ready to work.”
A first team All-Conference USA selection in 2019, LeMay led the 49ers with 1,082 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns (9 rushing; 4 receiving) for his second straight 1,000-yard rushing campaign. He led C-USA with 120.4 all-purpose yards (1,082 yds rushing; 242 yds receiving) and ranked second in rushing (98.4/gm) and TDs.