Jarryd Hayne earns spot on 49ers’ final roster

Jarryd Hayne has survived the final cuts of the San Francisco 49ers.

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area provides the scoop on this bit of news.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has watched Hayne make minced meat out of the hapless defenders who have attempted to bring him down this preseason. His early work prompted head coach Jim Tomsula to call him “a premier athlete in space.”

The Australian former Rugby League superstar quickly became a fan favorite here in the States. Utilizing a tantalizing array of size, speed, fluid agility and exceptional vision, Hayne excelled everywhere the 49ers put him during the team’s four preseason games.

As a return man, he’s phenomenal. Hayne’s soft hands have served him well in this capacity, as he routinely plucks difficult balls out of the air that most return men would let pass them by. Once the ball is in his hands, the Aussie sees the field and then moves through the fray of defenders with grace usually reserved for men half his size.

As a running back, he put on a show this preseason, gaining 175 yards on 25 carries (7 yards per attempt) and broke off gains of 53 and 34 yards in his first two games.

The 49ers have plenty of depth at the running back position, but Hayne’s value on special teams gave him special preference in the eyes of his coaches. Not only is he an exceptional return man, but he can also cover ground in a hurry on the other side as a defender.

It sure looks like the 49ers have found a gem in Hayne, who should be an impact player for the team in his rookie campaign.