Talanoa Hufanga was destined to be a fan favorite from the moment he was selected in the fifth round. It started with his emotional reaction on the call, informing him of his future as a 49er. Kyle Shanahan described him as “one of our favorite football players in this draft.”
That was immediately followed by Hufanga’s first time addressing the media, allowing his genuinely humble, high-caliber character to shine. But, by far, the most impressive moment was his declaration that he already earmarked special teams Pro-Bowler as his goal for the upcoming season.
A young man so focused on achieving his dream of entering the NFL and dedicated to the idea of doing anything necessary to help his new team prompted an outpouring of excitement and love from the fan base.