49ers take WKU’s Stout in third round of NFL draft
Published 11:46 pm Friday, April 25, 2025
- Western Kentucky defensive back Upton Stout was picked by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round (100th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday. (WKU ATHLETICS)
Western Kentucky defensive back Upton Stout was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 36th pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday.
Stout was the 100th overall pick in the draft and became the 40th Hilltopper to be drafted into the NFL. He is the first player drafted by the 49ers since Prince Charles Iworah went in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
The Hilltoppers have now had five players selected in the last four NFL drafts. That includes a player selected in the third round in each of the last four NFL drafts. WKU is the only non-power conference program to have a player drafted within the first three rounds in each of the last four NFL drafts.
Malachi Corley was taken with the first pick in the third round in 2024 – making him the second-highest draft pick in program history, behind Forrest Lamp – Brodric Martin was picked by the Detroit Lions with the 96th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, DeAngelo Malone was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 82nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and Bailey Zappe was taken by the New England Patriots in the fourth round with the 137th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Stout, a 5-foot-9, 182-pound native of Houston, spent three seasons at WKU and was a First Team All-Conference USA Defense selection during his final season with the program. Since the end of the 2024 season, he participated in WKU’s Pro Day, the Reese’s Senior Bowl – where he was named the American Team Defensive Back of the Week – and he took part in the NFL Scouting Combine. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he put up 21 reps on the bench press – the most for a defensive back in the event – to highlight his performance.
Stout started all 12 games that he appeared in during the 2024 season – his third season with the program after transferring from North Texas. He posted 52 tackles, with a team-high 7.5 for loss, one sack, one interception, one pass breakup and three quarterback hurries.
He appeared in seven games with six starts for the Hilltoppers during the 2023 season and was a big-time playmaker in the secondary. Despite missing five games to injury, he finished the year with 29 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception, five quarterback hurries and eight pass breakups. His interception came in the 52-22 victory over Houston Christian, and he returned the ball 53 yards for a touchdown. He posted his second defensive touchdown of the season in the regular-season finale at FIU on Nov. 25, when he recovered a fumble and returned it 16 yards to the end zone. Stout had a season-high seven tackles at Troy on Sept. 23.
Stout made an instant impact for the Hilltoppers during his first season at WKU in 2022, after transferring from North Texas. He started 11 games and played in all 14. In his first game in a Hilltopper uniform, Stout helped WKU beat Austin Peay by returning an interception 34 yards for a touchdown. He picked off another pass in the next game at Hawaii and finished the year with four interceptions overall. His final one came in the team’s 44-23 victory over South Alabama in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Stout made 44 tackles on the season, including a career-high eight in the New Orleans Bowl Victory. For his stellar season, Stout earned Freshman All-American Honorable Mention honors from CFN while also being named Conference USA Honorable Mention.
FREE-AGENT DEALS
A trio of former WKU players signed NFL rookie free-agent deals shortly after the draft concluded Saturday. Linebacker Kylan Guidry inked a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, wide receiver Kisean Johnson signed with the Baltimore Ravens and running back Elijah Young signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Guidry, a 6-4, 240-pound native of Opelousas, Louisiana, spent three seasons playing for the Hilltoppers. This past season, he appeared in 14 games and tallied 45 tackles – seven for loss – with three sacks, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
Johnson, a 6-1, 216-pound native of Birmingham, Alabama, played one season at WKU after transferring from Alabama State. Johnson started all 14 games for the Hilltoppers and finished with a team-high 75 catches for 925 yards and seven touchdowns. Johnson was named to the 2024 All-CUSA second-team pick at wide receiver and also landed 2024 Phil Steele Postseason CUSA All-Conference honors as a wide receiver.
Young, a 5-10, 198-pound native of Knoxville, Tennessee, spent two seasons at WKU after transferring from Missouri. He led the Tops in rushing in his first season with the program in 2023 with 474 yards and three touchdowns on 104 carries, plus had 20 catches for 247 yards and three TDs.
This past season, Young started all 14 games and was second on the team in all-purpose yards with 1,267. He led the team with 883 rushing yards and three TDs on 201 attempts, and was third in receiving with 47 catches for 384 yards and two TDs. Young was named to the 2024 Phil Steele Postseason CUSA All-Conference Second Team as a running back.