Bill Williamson, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Skov shining under familiar coaches again

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Shayne Skov said the sting of going undrafted in May is behind him. Yet, there’s no denying it is part of his journey.

“What happened doesn’t matter anymore, it didn’t go as I planned, but it’s over,” the hard-nosed, playmaking linebacker from Stanford said Friday. “I’m in the league now. I have to make sure I stay in the league.”

A week into the San Francisco 49ers' training camp, Skov is doing everything possible to make that a reality. Skov has showed the same instincts and football savvy that made him a star in college. While the 49ers are loaded at linebacker, Skov has a solid chance of making the team.

Coach Jim Harbaugh has repeatedly praised Skov’s play. Of course, Harbaugh has some inside information on Skov.

Harbaugh coached Skov at Stanford, as did 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. When Skov -- who many around the league thought would get drafted in the middle rounds -- went undrafted, he reunited with his former coaches. He figured he would have loved been drafted by the 49ers, so when the choice was his, it was a perfect match.

Skov said familiarity with the coaches has somewhat helped him early in camp. But he knows if he makes the 49ers’ 53-man roster it will be because of what he knows, not his Stanford ties.

“The preseason is big for me,” Skov said. “Things are going well, but I still have to go out and prove I belong here.”

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