Former Cowboy wide receiver, De’zhaun Stribling was drafted by the 49ers with the first pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday evening - Stribling played for Oklahoma State for two seasons before moving on to Ole Miss last season
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The San Francisco 49ers’ continued emphasis on adding versatile, high-upside talent to their wide receiver room as the team selected former Oklahoma State and Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling with the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday evening.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound pass-catcher from Kapolei, Hawaii, brings a rare combination of size, speed, and physicality that fits perfectly into Kyle Shanahan’s scheme.
Stribling’s journey to the NFL began more than 2,000 miles from the mainland. A standout at Kapolei High School, he earned All-OIA First Team honors as a junior with 46 catches for 682 yards and three touchdowns. As a senior, he posted 64 receptions for 872 yards and nine scores, earning All-State Second Team recognition from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
A three-star recruit, Stribling chose Washington State over in-state Hawaii, San Diego State, and Wake Forest, enrolling early in January 2021 to begin his college career far from home.
At Washington State, Stribling quickly made an impact. As a redshirt freshman in 2021, he hauled in 44 passes for 471 yards and five touchdowns, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention and leading all conference freshmen in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. The following year, he started all 12 games and led the Cougars with 51 catches for 602 yards and another five scores.
His production caught the eye of Oklahoma State, prompting his first transfer ahead of the 2023 season.
Stribling’s path to Stillwater proved challenging but ultimately rewarding. In 2023, he started the first four games before a season-ending hand injury limited him to 14 receptions for 198 yards and one touchdown. He returned healthy in 2024 and exploded, leading the Cowboys with 52 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns, an average of 17.0 yards per reception. He ranked among the Big 12’s top 10 in receiving yards, yards per game, and yards per catch.
Standout performances included a career-best seven-catch, 174-yard, two-touchdown effort in a win at Tulsa, along with 100-yard games against Kansas State, Texas Tech, and TCU. His reliable hands, contested catch ability, and willingness to block in the run game made him a favorite in Oklahoma State’s offense.
After the 2024 season, Stribling entered the transfer portal again and landed at Ole Miss on December 17, 2024.
In his lone season with the Rebels in 2025, he posted 55 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games, helping Ole Miss reach the College Football Playoff semifinals. His production remained steady even in a loaded receiving corps, and he earned preseason Biletnikoff Award watch-list recognition while impressing at the Senior Bowl.
Now, Stribling heads to San Francisco, where his skill set aligns seamlessly with the 49ers’ offensive identity.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash with a broad jump that ranked in the 82nd percentile, showing he has the speed and explosiveness Shanahan likes to have in the roster.
Listed at 6-foot-2 with 10-inch hands, Stribling wins at all three levels, slants, curls, and vertical routes, while forcing missed tackles after the catch.
Scouts praise him as one of the draft’s more willing blockers at the wide receiver position, a trait that will immediately make him a favorite to Shanahan and receivers coach Leonard Hankerson.
In Shanahan’s system, which thrives on motion, misdirection, and creating mismatches, Stribling projects as an outside “X” or “Z” receiver who can stretch the field, win in contested situations, and contribute in the run game. His YAC ability and physicality complement the 49ers’ existing weapons, potentially forming a formidable trio alongside established stars.
At 23 years old with nearly 2,964 career receiving yards and 23 touchdowns across four schools, Stribling arrives as a battle tested prospect ready to contribute immediately.
For a player who left Hawaii as a three-star recruit, battled injuries, and navigated three college programs, Friday’s moment represented the culmination of De’Zhaun Stribling’s talent.