PITA TAUMOEPENU
Position: Defensive line
College: Utah
Height: 6-1 1/4
Weight: 243
Selection: Sixth round, No. 202 overall
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers selected Utah pass-rusher Pita Taumoepenu in the sixth round with the No. 202 overall pick.
Taumoepenu recorded nine sacks last season and figures to line up at the 49ers’ “Leo” position in their new 4-3 scheme under first-year coordinator Robert Saleh.
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“I have a great ability to get after the quarterback,” he said. “That’s what I do. I have a lot of passion for it.”
Taumoepenu (pronounced tao-mo-eh-pen-new) was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection. In addition to tying for fourth in the conference in sacks, he tied for third in the Pac-12 with three forced fumbles.
In the Foster Farms Bowl against Indiana at Levi's Stadium, Taumoepenu recorded six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
"We need to find out who the best pass rushers are on this team," 49ers general manager John Lynch said. "We got there in the sixth round and we felt Pita was the best pass rusher who was there. So, that’s why we took a shot on him. We want to continue improving in pass rushing."
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Taumoepenu took pre-draft visits to the Pittsburgh Steelers and had workouts with the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots, he said.
