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How DeForest Buckner still had an impact on the 49ers while playing for Colts
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- How DeForest Buckner still had an impact on the 49ers while playing for Colts
How DeForest Buckner still had an impact on the 49ers while playing for Colts originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA — DeForest Buckner might have been gone, but he left an impact on the 49ers defensive line.
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San Francisco's former first-round pick has often been brought up by defensive line coach Kris Kocurek during film sessions over the past six seasons, and the veteran is happy to be included in the discussions.
"To be talked about like that over the past six years, it was nice to hear," Buckner said on Monday. "They know about me from afar and hearing [about me], but I'm here now and I just want to be in the room and doing all I can to help elevate the room."
After spending his first four NFL seasons in the Bay Area, Buckner was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2020, where he played until being traded back to the Bay Area last week . Kocurek always had the Oregon product on his mind as a standard for his room to live up to.
Both Keion White and Gracen Halton were excited for Bucker's arrival, which will instantly add firepower to the group.
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"Kris talks about him all the time," White said. "He's been talking about him all season. High-energy guy, high effort and motor. Good addition to the room and somebody who is familiar with the standard and knows how to upkeep it."
Halton remembers meeting Buckner while the vet trained at the University of Oklahoma during the offseason and Halton was a freshman. Still, the rookie was caught off guard by Buckner's 6-foot-7 frame, which apparently seemed bigger the second time around.
"I'm a young guy, so I've been watching him for a long time," Halton said with a smile. "I didn't realize how big he was in person until seeing him, I'm like man this is a big dude. It's great. I can learn everything. Just picking it up first day seeing him, just watching how he moves, how he does things.
"I pick it up quickly. I'm going to be in his head every day asking for tips and just getting better with him."
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Buckner, who is in his 11th NFL season, is set to be an immediate resource in the defensive line room. The Oregon product also was part of Kocurek's first season with the 49ers in 2019, a group the coach references as one of the best he's worked with, along with the 2010 Detroit Lions group he coached.
"I'm still playing at a high level, and there are a lot of young guys in the room," Buckner said. "If they want to pick my brain and ask me questions, I'm always an open book to all of them. It doesn't just take one or two guys to make a room or a team, it's the entire room.
"I always believe that the D-line is the engine of the team. I want to pour into those young guys everything that I know, so I can elevate their game and get even better."
Buckner will make his second debut with the 49ers in Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi's Stadium. Until then, the younger players will learn all they can from the savvy veteran.
