Jauan Jennings
refer to caption
Jennings with Tennessee in 2019
No. 15 – San Francisco 49ers
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1997-07-10) July 10, 1997 (age 26)
Cowan, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Blackman
(Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
College:Tennessee (2015–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / Round: 7 / Pick: 217
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:78
Receiving yards:963
Receiving touchdowns:7
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Bennie Jauan Jennings (/dʒəˈwɑːn/ jə-WAHN;[1] born July 10, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee and was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Early years

Jennings attended Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[2] He played quarterback in high school.[3] A four-star recruit, Jennings committed to the University of Tennessee to play college football.[4][5]

College career

Jennings played at Tennessee from 2015 to 2019 under head coaches Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt.[6] He converted to wide receiver in college.[7]

In the 2015 season, Jennings was an instant contributor. In his collegiate debut against Bowling Green, Jennings had three receptions for 56 yards in the 59–30 victory.[8] Later on in the season, in a 28–27 loss to rival Florida, he showed off his dual-threat ability when he threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Joshua Dobbs on a trick play.[9]

In the 2016 season, Jennings's role in the offense expanded. He recorded his first game with over 100 receiving yards with three receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown in a 38–28 victory over Florida sealing an 18-point comeback for the Vols.[10] The win was Tennessee's first over the Gators since the 2004 season.[11] In the next game against rival Georgia, Jennings recorded the game-winning reception on a 43-yard Hail Mary from Dobbs to put the Vols up for good 34–31.[12] Jennings finished the 2016 season with 40 receptions for 580 yards and seven touchdowns.[13]

In 2017, Jennings appeared in only one game due to a wrist injury but was dismissed from the team under interim head coach Brady Hoke later in the season.[14] Jennings was reinstated for the next season by then-new head coach Jeremy Pruitt for the 2018 season.[15][16] Jennings earned a medical redshirt for his time missed in the 2017 season.[17] In the 2018 season, Jennings appeared in 11 games and recorded 30 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns.[18]

In the 2019 season, Jennings was a key contributor for the Vols during their 8–5 season.[19] He recorded four games with at least 100 receiving yards. Jennings' best output came in a victory against South Carolina, where he had seven receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns.[20] Overall, Jennings finished his senior season with 59 receptions for 969 yards and eight touchdowns.[21]

During his collegiate career, Jennings had 146 receptions for 2,153 yards and 18 touchdowns.[22]

College statistics
Year Receiving Rushing
G Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD
2015 10 14 149 10.6 0 7 15 2.1 0
2016 13 40 580 14.5 7 5 27 5.4 0
2017 1 3 17 5.7 0 0 0 0.0 0
2018 11 30 438 14.6 3 0 0 0.0 0
2019 13 59 969 16.4 8 13 51 3.9 1
Career 48 146 2,153 14.7 18 25 93 3.7 1

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+1⁄8 in
(1.91 m) 		215 lb
(98 kg) 		31+5⁄8 in
(0.80 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.72 s 1.65 s 2.74 s 29.0 in
(0.74 m)		 9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)
All values from NFL Combine[23][24]

Jennings was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round with the 217th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.[25] He was waived on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[26][27] Jennings was placed on the practice squad/injured list on October 24.[28] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 4, 2021.[29]

Over the course of the 2021 season, Jennings established himself as the 49ers third wideout. He registered his first NFL touchdown in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, and by the end of November had become an integral part of the offense.[30] Over the final five weeks of the 2021 season, Jennings recorded 16 receptions for 212 yards and three touchdowns, including a career-high six receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns in a must-win week 18 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.[31] His production continued in the playoffs, with Jennings recording at least one reception in each round before the 49ers exited in the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship.[32]

In the 2022 season, Jennings appeared in 16 games, of which he started four. He finished the 2022 season with 35 receptions for 416 yards and a touchdown.[33]

On February 28, 2023, the 49ers placed an exclusive-rights tender on Jennings, which he signed in April.[34][35] In the 2023 season, Jennings appeared in 13 games and started two. He had 19 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown.[36] In Super Bowl LVIII, Jennings caught four of his five targets for 42 yards and a touchdown.[37] He also threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey in a 25–22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.[38] Jennings became the second player in Super Bowl history to throw for a touchdown and catch a touchdown, joining Nick Foles in Super Bowl LII.[39]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2021 SF 16 1 24 282 11.8 34 5 1 0
2022 SF 16 4 35 416 11.9 44 1 1 0
2023 SF 13 2 19 265 13.9 31 1 0 0
Career 45 7 78 963 12.3 44 7 2 0

Postseason

Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2021 SF 3 0 6 43 7.2 13 0 0 0
2022 SF 3 0 4 67 16.8 33 0 0 0
2023 SF 3 0 10 111 11.1 23 1 0 0
Career 9 0 20 221 11.1 33 1 0 0

References

  1. ^ 1-on-1: Jauan Jennings Discusses Wes Welker's Influence in His Career. YouTube. December 17, 2021. Event occurs at 0:10. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Cirillo, Chip (June 28, 2014). "Jauan Jennings excels at hoops, but future is football". tennessean.com. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Kreager, Tom (October 6, 2014). "Blackman QB Jauan Jennings' season may quiet doubters". dnj.com. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Brown, Patrick (April 8, 2014). "Blackman football star Jauan Jennings commits to Tennessee". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "Jauan Jennings, 2015 Dual Threat Quarterback - Rivals.com". N.rivals.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  6. ^ Potkey, Rhiannon (September 27, 2016). "Vols 'feed off' wide receiver Jauan Jennings' passion". knoxnews.com. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Brown, Patrick (August 30, 2015). "Jauan Jennings exceeds expectations in 'easy' transition to receiver". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "Bowling Green State vs Tennessee Box Score, September 5, 2015". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Brown, Patrick (September 27, 2015). "Sunday rewind: Florida 28, Vols 27". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "Florida at Tennessee Box Score, September 24, 2016". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  11. ^ Strange, Mike (September 24, 2016). "Vols end losing streak against Gators, 38-28". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Cole, Ryan (October 1, 2016). "Tennessee Stuns Georgia with Game-Winning Hail Mary". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "Jauan Jennings 2016 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Wells, Adam (September 5, 2017). "Tennessee WR Jauan Jennings Reportedly Could Miss 12 Weeks with Wrist Injury". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  15. ^ Wilson, Mike (November 22, 2017). "UT Vols football dismisses wide receiver Jauan Jennings following expletive-laced rant". knoxnews.com. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  16. ^ Gallagher, Michael (October 29, 2019). "Jennings making most of second chance with Vols". Nashville Post. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  17. ^ Wright, Wil (April 26, 2018). "Jauan Jennings Granted Medical Redshirt". Rocky Top Insider. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  18. ^ "Jauan Jennings 2018 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  19. ^ "2019 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  20. ^ "South Carolina at Tennessee Box Score, October 26, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  21. ^ "Jauan Jennings 2019 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  22. ^ "Jauan Jennings College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  23. ^ "Jauan Jennings Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  24. ^ "2020 Draft Scout Jauan Jennings, Tennessee NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  25. ^ Toppmeyer, Blake (April 25, 2020). "Tennessee Vols' Jauan Jennings taken by San Francisco 49ers in seventh round of NFL Draft". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  26. ^ "49ers Announce Roster Moves". 49ers.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  27. ^ "49ers Sign 16 Players to the Practice Squad". 49ers.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  28. ^ "Jauan Jennings: Dealing with injury". CBSSports.com. October 24, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  29. ^ "49ers Announce Roster Moves". 49ers.com. January 4, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  30. ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles - September 19th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  31. ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams - January 9th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  32. ^ "Jauan Jennings 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  33. ^ "Jauan Jennings 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  34. ^ Alper, Josh (February 28, 2023). "49ers tender Jauan Jennings as exclusive rights free agent". NBCSports.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  35. ^ "49ers Sign Wide Receiver to One-Year Contract; Announce Two Other Roster Moves". 49ers.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  36. ^ "Jauan Jennings 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  37. ^ "Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  38. ^ Dubow, Josh (February 12, 2024). "49ers' Jauan Jennings becomes 2nd player with a TD pass and catch in a Super Bowl". AP News. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  39. ^ Dajani, Jordan (February 12, 2024). "49ers' Jauan Jennings joins Nick Foles as the only players to do this in a Super Bowl game". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.

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