UNC Football: Jeremiah Gemmel signs with the San Francisco 49ers

Former UNC football standout linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel has signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. 

Unfortunately, former UNC football standout Jeremiah Gemmel was not selected during the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, it didn’t take long for Gemmel to find a new home.

Shortly after the draft concluded, Gemmel signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. The Newnan, Georgia native will look to prove that he belongs on an NFL roster.

Due to offseason shoulder surgery, Gemmel was unable to take part in much of the pre-draft process, something that certainly impacted his draft stock. However, he was still able to meet with NFL teams, as the 49ers decided to take a chance on the former Tar Heel.

Although he missed much of the pre-draft process, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein had some positive things to say about the former Tar Heel standout:

"Nicknamed “The General” by teammates for his leadership traits, Gemmel is jam-packed with a treasure chest of intangibles that coaching staffs will love. He plays instinctive, fast football with an impressive regulator to alter speeds and maintain tackle-ready positioning. There are elements of his game that stand out, but the body of work is more solid than spectacular. He is undersized and could struggle with taking on NFL blockers, but his football IQ and range could make him an intriguing run-and-chase 4-3 Will linebacker with special teams potential."

As a three-year starter at North Carolina, Gemmel became a reliable leader on the defensive side of the ball. He was a two-year captain and earned third-team All-ACC honors during his senior season.

Overall, Gemmel finished his UNC football career with 236 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 9 pass breakups, 6.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, three interceptions, and one fumble recovery. He started 38 games at inside linebacker over his final three seasons on campus and ranked second on the team in tackles over that span.

Gemmel is now among a handful of former Tar Heels who will look to make their mark at the next level as an undrafted free agent.

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