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The San Francisco 49ers selected former Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft on Friday. Lemonier was the 88th-overall pick in the draft.
The 49ers will convert Lemonier, who checks in at 6'3 and 255 pounds, to outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense. The former four-star recruit left the Tigers after his junior year, and despite a poor finish to the 2012 season, he was drafted earlier than expected. Lemonier impressed at February's NFL combine, running a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and completing 27 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press. His arm length was measured at 34 1/2 inches, and his hands were 10 1/8 inches.
Lemonier broke out for the Tigers in 2011, his sophomore season. He compiled 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks to go with 47 tackles. Lemonier also added 15 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
In 2012, those numbers dropped off. He racked up five sacks, five tackles for loss, 19 tackles, five quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and a blocked kick in the first four games of the year, but in the final two-thirds of the season, he had just one-half sack, one-half tackle for loss, 15 tackles and seven QB hurries.