Undrafted? No problem as multiple Charlotte 49ers fight for NFL roster spots
With the NFL regular season just a month away, The Observer caught up with nine Charlotte 49ers who are on five teams across the league.
Charlotte’s first season of football came in 2013, followed by a quick jump from FCS to FBS in 2015. Now, entering their 12th season as a program, the 49ers have seen five players selected in the NFL Draft, others signing as free agents and numerous position coaches gaining NFL experience.
After catching up with the 49ers in the AFC in part one of this series, we spoke with five Charlotte players on four different teams in the NFC, including the most recent draftee from the Queen City, Grant DuBose.
DuBose healthy going into this season
Selected with the No. 256 pick in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, DuBose landed with the Green Bay Packers. After spending much of training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a back injury in his rookie season, the wide receiver is healthy and ready to contribute to one of the up-and-coming teams in the NFC.
“I’m feeling a lot better. Last year around this time, I was still sidelined. This time around, I’m healthy and have a head start on everything. I’m feeling good going into year two,” DuBose told The Observer. “It’s a different life than college, making the transition, but it’s treating me well. I just want to take my game to the next level. I’ve been focusing on being more intentional about the details. That’s one of the things you learn about the league in the transition — the top of the route, speed, and just trying to become an overall complete receiver.”
DuBose’s story still stands out. From working three jobs in Alabama after his Division II season with Miles College was canceled, to bursting onto the scene in Charlotte’s first Power Four victory over Duke, to hearing his name called in the NFL Draft less than two years later — the Queen City holds a special place for the Montgomery, Alabama native.
“I came down last month in June and had a chance to talk to some of the receivers and some guys that are still there,” DuBose said. “I saw they’re doing a lot of new things around the facility, and it’s a lot of new faces — a lot. A lot of guys I’m not familiar with, but I’m hoping they can get some things turned around and get going at Charlotte. It’s time for it.”
DuBose, along with New York Giants long-snapper Cam Lyons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Markees Watts, were all members of the 2021 Charlotte team that scored Charlotte’s first Power Four victory, and seeing the success of other 49ers at the next level puts a smile on Watts’ face.
Undrafted? No problem
After concluding his career at Charlotte as its all-time sack leader with 21.5 sacks — passing his 2019 teammate and current Pittsburgh Steeler Alex Highsmith — Watts found himself in the undrafted free agent market following the 2023 NFL Draft.
Following an unsuccessful opportunity with the New York Jets, Watts landed with Tampa Bay and fought the uphill battle of being an undrafted 6-foot-1, 250-pound edge rusher Needing to make an impression, Watts’ relentless work ethic carved his way to the Buccaneers’ front lines.
Following his rookie season, in which he played in seven games and recorded four solo tackles and his first career sack, Watts isn’t just looking for a spot on the team — he’s looking to be the best.
“The only thing I’m fighting for is to be the best in the group. Last season I was fighting for a spot on the team, proving that I wanted to be here. Now, it’s a completely different fight, but it’s in the same ring. I’m not just fighting to stay here; I’m fighting to be the best,” Watts told The Observer. “I’ll take the growth because obviously, I’m not the tallest, strongest, or fast as other guys in the room, which makes it twice as hard for me. It went from trying to survive to trying to earn my stripes.”
The rise from a training camp invite to making plays on Sundays caught former teammate Highsmith’s attention.
“He’s been balling. I’m excited to see what he does in year two. I think he’s going to have a lot of opportunities to make some plays,” Highsmith said of Watts. “Just seeing how his camp goes, and how his preseason goes, I know he’s going to ball out.”
The Lancaster, South Carolina native will get his homecoming on Dec. 1 when the Buccaneers travel to Bank of America Stadium to take on the Carolina Panthers.
Lyons hope to latch on to Bears
Much like Watts’ rookie season, long-snapper Lyons is a free agent trying to earn a job with a new team.
Teaming up with Nate Davis, the second 49er to be drafted back in 2019, Lyons is making a stop with his second team, the Chicago Bears, after a brief stint with the New York Giants in 2023.
Lyons is working to make the most of his opportunity, which started on Thursday night in the NFL’s Hall of Fame game.
“We’ve gotten an early start because of the Hall of Fame game. I’m trying to work my butt off and make a name for myself and try to get a job somewhere,” Lyons told The Observer. “A lot of it is just working with my agent and staying ready for when an opportunity comes open. You don’t know when you’re going to get a call or get worked out in the off-season to try and get signed. You don’t know when it’s going to happen, so you better stay ready.”
Davis blocks his way to Chicago
Following four seasons blocking for Derrick Henry with the Tennessee Titans, Davis landed a three-year, $30 million deal with Chicago in March 2023. Drafted in the third round, 82nd overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Davis has a reputation as one of the more respected guards in the league.
After serving as a starter with the 49ers for all four of his collegiate years, Davis started in 54 of his 55 games with Tennessee over the first four seasons of his career, being graded as one of the top 50 guards in the NFL each year.
While currently sidelined with injury, Davis’ sixth year in the league looks to be a promising one, blocking for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall, and the Bears’ revamped offense.
Davis, who had five different offensive line coaches at Charlotte and is now on his second position coach in the NFL, is relying on his support system to continue the success of his NFL career.
“Having the right people around your circle keeps you on your straight and narrow path,” Davis said in his Bears introduction. “It’s tough having a new coach every single year and not knowing what to expect, but it makes you a better person coming out of it.”
Davis, along with Highsmith, Watts, Cameron Clark, and Timmy Horne represent five current and former NFL players on the Charlotte 49ers’ 2018 roster, with the latter making his second stop in the league with the New York Giants.
Giant opportunity for Horne
Following four years in green and gold and earning a degree in sociology, Horne spent his final collegiate season as a captain at Kansas State and fought his way to the NFL on an undrafted free-agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022.
Horne made an immediate impact in his rookie season, playing in all 17 games and recording 27 tackles from his nose tackle position.
After seeing action in just three games in 2023, Horne was signed by the New York Giants from the Falcons practice squad. Now, going into his third training camp, he’s focused on the positives of joining the Giants.
“It’s my third training camp, and it’s amazing to be out here with a new team, learning the schemes and the people I’m playing next to,” Horne said. “You never know down the road who you’ll run into.”
With Niners finding their way to the NFL year after year, familiar faces are becoming more common at Horne’s second stop.
“It really shows that Charlotte’s got some talent in the big leagues,” Horne told The Observer. “I’m always going to follow my alma mater. Charlotte is home.”
Those 49ers who have made it to the professional level understand how fortunate they are, according to Watts.
“It’s an unfamiliar feeling, but it feels so natural and good,” Watts said of Charlotte players across the league. “Just seeing somebody chasing the same dream and achieving on the same level, that’s a good feeling. Seeing coach (Marcus) West, Grant (DuBose), Cam (Lyons), Alex (Highsmith) — those guys, it feels good to be a part of it. It feels like we moved up to a new level, and the crowd gets thinner and thinner as you go up. Seeing them being a part of the journey and being a part of the journey is huge. We all know how blessed, lucky, and fortunate we are to be here. The feeling of seeing those folks — it brings a natural smile to your face.”