Najee Toran’s first start at UCLA in 2014 didn’t quite go to plan. The guard was benched afterward and told to switch to defense. Yet four years later, he’s a candidate to make his first career start Sunday for the 49ers.
Not on defense, but at guard.
The true freshman from Houston, playing in his first college game, struggled while the Bruins’ offensive line allowed five sacks to Virginia. Toran got demoted and moved to defensive tackle where he spent the most of the following season. But he kept his focus.
“If you look into it too much, you’ll get distracted from what you’re supposed to be doing,” Toran said.