# Upton Stout
**Upton Stout** (born 2002) is an American professional football cornerback for the [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-49ers) of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league), who was drafted in the third round, 100th overall, of the 2025 NFL Draft after playing college football at Western Kentucky and North Texas.[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/) • [2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StouUp00.htm) Listed at 5 feet 9 inches and 181 pounds, he has played primarily as a slot (nickel) cornerback.[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/) • [3](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54247)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position, team, number | Cornerback, No. 20, San Francisco 49ers; active[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/) |
| Born | 2002, Houston, Texas, to Bryan and Helen Stout[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/) |
| Measurables | Height 5-9, weight 181 lbs, arms 30 inches, hands 9 inches; 40-yard dash of 4.44 seconds[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/) • [3](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54247) |
| Draft | 3rd round, 100th overall, 2025 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StouUp00.htm) |
| College | Western Kentucky (2022-24) and North Texas (2020-21); 45 games, 34 starts, 166 tackles, 6 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns)[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/) |
| College honors | First-team All-Conference USA (2024); Conference USA Honorable Mention (2022)[3](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54247) |
| NFL career totals | 21 games, 6 starts, 98 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 passes defended, 0 interceptions[5](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/stats/) |
## Early life and high school
Stout attended North Shore Senior High School in Houston, Texas, where he won consecutive Texas 6A-1 state championship titles in 2018 and 2019, part of a two-season combined record of 31-1.[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/) He was rated a three-star recruit in the 2020 class as a safety and committed to the [University of North Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-north-texas).[6](https://lastwordonsports.com/nfl/2025/01/17/2025-nfl-draft-early-scouting-report-upton-stout-wku/)
## College career
Stout appeared in 8 games (3 starts) as a freshman during the shortened 2020 COVID-19 season, totaling 35 tackles and 3 passes defended, and played 4 games (2 starts) with 6 tackles in 2021 at North Texas.[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/) He entered the transfer portal and, rated as a four-star, top-10 transfer cornerback, committed to Western Kentucky in November 2021.[6](https://lastwordonsports.com/nfl/2025/01/17/2025-nfl-draft-early-scouting-report-upton-stout-wku/)
At Western Kentucky he became a multi-year starter in the secondary. In 2022 he appeared in 14 games (11 starts) with 44 tackles, 6 passes defended, 4 interceptions, and 0.5 sacks, earning Conference USA Honorable Mention honors. An injury-limited 2023 season saw him appear in 7 games (6 starts) with 29 tackles, 9 passes defended, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception returned for a touchdown, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 0.5 sacks. In 2024 he started 12 games and recorded 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2 passes defended, 1.0 sack, and 1 interception, earning First-Team All-[Conference USA](https://www.edgepedia.org/conference-usa) honors.[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/) Across his five college seasons he totaled 166 tackles, 21 passes defended, 10.0 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns), 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/) Ourlads' scouting service noted that he aligned outside, in the slot, and at deep safety for Western Kentucky.[3](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54247)
## 2025 draft and pre-draft evaluation
Stout was invited to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl, where he was named the American Team Defensive Back of the Week, and to the 2025 [NFL Scouting Combine](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfl-scouting-combine), where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds.[7](https://wkusports.com/documents/download/2025/3/21/WKU_FB_25___Pro_Day_Guide.pdf) At 5 feet 9 inches he was among the smallest defensive backs in the 2025 draft class, and most scouting services projected him in later rounds; one early report graded him around the fourth round and described him as a potential mainstay starting slot corner whose small frame limited him to the slot.[6](https://lastwordonsports.com/nfl/2025/01/17/2025-nfl-draft-early-scouting-report-upton-stout-wku/) The Draft Network described him as an alignment-versatile defender who plays with physicality and tenacity at all three levels of the defense.[8](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2025/01/24/upton-stout-scouting-report-nfl-draft)
The 49ers hosted Stout on a pre-draft visit, and area scout Warren Ball wrote in his report that Stout had the "heart of a lion" and gave him the highest "Game WIT" grade, the team's evaluation of game demeanor, aggressiveness, mentality, and strain, that Ball had ever assigned a prospect. General manager [John Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-lynch-american-football) later called Stout's post-draft phone call, an 89-second conversation in which Stout said "Let's do it" nine times, the most memorable of his nine-season tenure.[9](https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/49ers-fell-loud-proud-fierce-rookie-corne-upton-20341399.php) San Francisco selected him with the 100th overall pick in the third round.[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StouUp00.htm)
## NFL career
**Rookie season (2025).** Stout played 16 games with 4 starts as a rookie, recording 82 combined tackles (43 solo, 39 assisted), 1.0 sack, 5 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble.[5](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/stats/) His first career sack came on a timed blitz of Saints quarterback [Spencer Rattler](https://www.edgepedia.org/spencer-rattler).[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/) He made his first postseason appearance that season, playing 2 playoff games, and broke up a fourth-down pass in tight coverage against the [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.edgepedia.org/philadelphia-eagles) to give the 49ers possession near midfield in a Wild Card win.[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/)
**Second season (2026).** Through 5 games of the 2026 season he had 16 combined tackles, 2 starts, 0.5 sacks, and 1 pass defended, with the 49ers winning each of his first five games, including a 27-7 Week 1 win over the Rams and a 35-13 home opener win over the Dolphins.[5](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/stats/) Defensive coordinator [Raheem Morris](https://www.edgepedia.org/raheem-morris) has said Stout can play any of the defensive back positions, including safety, and has praised his run support and ball awareness.[10](https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/upton-stout-49ers-nickel-cornerback-22459071.php)
## Playing style
Scouting reports before the draft emphasized Stout's quick run/pass reads, patient footwork against shifty slot receivers, and aggressive, physical play despite his size; Ourlands' profile called him an "in-your-face pest" who keeps working until the play is made.[3](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54247) Pre-draft analyses flagged his small frame, struggles against larger wideouts, and limited impact against blockers in the run game as the main weaknesses of his profile.[6](https://lastwordonsports.com/nfl/2025/01/17/2025-nfl-draft-early-scouting-report-upton-stout-wku/)
## Personal life
Stout majored in real estate at [Western Kentucky University](https://www.edgepedia.org/western-kentucky-university) and owns an apparel line called "Lazywayz."[4](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/)
## References
1. [Upton Stout Stats, News and Video - CB, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/)
2. [Upton Stout Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StouUp00.htm)
3. [Upton Stout, San Francisco 49ers, Ourlads' NFL Scouting Services](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54247)
4. [Upton Stout, San Francisco 49ers roster biography](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/upton-stout/)
5. [Upton Stout Stats Summary, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/upton-stout/stats/)
6. [2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report: Upton Stout, WKU, Last Word On Sports](https://lastwordonsports.com/nfl/2025/01/17/2025-nfl-draft-early-scouting-report-upton-stout-wku/)
7. [2025 WKU Football Pro Day Guide, WKU Sports](https://wkusports.com/documents/download/2025/3/21/WKU_FB_25___Pro_Day_Guide.pdf)
8. [Upton Stout Scouting Report, NFL Draft 2025, The Draft Network](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2025/01/24/upton-stout-scouting-report-nfl-draft)
9. [How the 49ers fell for loud, proud and fierce rookie Upton Stout, San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/49ers-fell-loud-proud-fierce-rookie-corne-upton-20341399.php)
10. [49ers' Upton Stout reminds Raheem Morris of a Hall of Fame cornerback, San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/upton-stout-49ers-nickel-cornerback-22459071.php)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Cornerbacks › Active professional cornerbacks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license