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John Keith, SS
Round 4, Pick 14 , Overall 108
From: Furman

Height/Weight: 6-0/210
Speed (40 time): 4.57

Defensive Stats
 
Years GP GS TK SO AS FR FC INT TFL PBU BK
1996 13 00 47 33 14 0 1 2 0- 0 6 0
1997 11 11 85 47 38 0 1 4 4-10 6 2
1998 07 07 56 38 18 1 1 2 3- 4 3 0
1999 12 12 132 93 39 0 0 3 4-16 5 0
TOTAL 43 30 320 211 109 1 3 11 11-30 20 2

 


Analysis by Rob Baker, 49ers Clubhouse draft writer:
           
Keith was a Division I-AA All-American and was Southern Conference Defensive player of the year. Great tackler that has good size and good speed and if very effective v. the run. A troubling factor is that he hasn’t done much covering in his days at Furman and isn’t great against the pass, which may be his downfall in the NFL, especially being drafted by the niners, a team in desperate need of a good coverage guy.
Comments: Drafted to be a backup behind Lance Shulters and Zack Bronson who are both starters with the departure of McDonald.
          
 
Info from The Sporting News:
 
Good size. Was the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. Plays well against the run but coverage skills are still in question. Had 132 tackles as a senior. Battled injury problems throughout career. Will have a big adjustment from playing in Division I-AA to NFL.

Info from Pro Football Weekly:

Notes: Redshirted in 1995 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament the summer before he reported to school. Has started when healthy the past four years. Had 85 tackles and four interceptions in '97. Was only healthy for the first two games in '98, then broke his foot. Tried to play later in the season and finished the campaign with 56 tackles, three passes broken up and two interceptions. Had a career-best 132 tackles along with three interceptions and five passes broken up in '99 and was the consensus Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Division I-AA All-American.

Positives: Has good size and strength and above-average speed. Makes a lot of plays against the run. Played much better in 1999.

Negatives: Has had very limited exposure in pass coverage. Did not face many passing teams and was rarely asked to cover.

Summary: The ability to play the pass will make or break Keith. He looks the part and has some straight-line speed.

Info from CBS SportsLine:
 
Strong athletic safety completed an excellent career in the Division I AA level where he earned Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in '99. Keith has a strong athletic frame and the footwork to be a complete prospect at safety. He has played both safety spots and displays the hitting power to stop the run and the speed to match up in coverage.

 As a senior, he recorded 132 tackles with 4 TFLs, 3 interceptions and 5 PBUs in a fine effort in both coverage and run support. For his career, he totaled 320 tackles playing both safeties spots with '99 season at free after the prior two seasons on the strong side. He was a three-time all-conference performer despite missing earlier time with a torn ACL injury and a foot injury.

 He has registered 11 picks in his career, displaying good ball awareness and hands. He will have to prove to be up to the challenge against NFL receivers if he expects to see playing time early as a pro. His run support skills are very good and would allow for him to play the strong safety spot. His cover skills are adequate though they have rarely been tested at the lower level.

 Good athlete with upside and the physical toughness to contribute on special teams. Good late pick with the talent to develop into a starter in time.

Info from SportPage.com:
 
Superb open field tackler with exceptional range & quickness…Physical tackler with keen run defense reactions…Turns smoothly & shortens his strides to get to the ball immediately…Stays low coming out of his backpedal & possesses the hands to make the tough interception…Excels as a wedge-buster on special teams & knows how to utilize his excellent leaping ability to cause havoc for an opponent’s punting game…Recently timed at 4.52 in the 40-yard dash. 
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