"I think he's going to be a real value for somebody. Somebody's going to get a guy who has great ability and probably could develop into something special."

When word of Saban's comments about White were relayed to Cooper, this year's fourth overall pick expressed similar support.

"Nick said that? Nick was correct," Cooper said. "Great athlete. Great route runner, and he's getting better. He's always getting better, and he always wants to work. He's driven, and he can go out and make plays. I'm telling you, he can go out there and make plays."

Yet despite the high-profile endorsements and a 4.34-second 40-yard dash time at his pro day, White sat through 256 picks of the draft without hearing his named called. The wideout knew his injury history would be a deterrent, but he still thought a team would take a shot on him in the later rounds.

"I was surprised," White said. "I had been hearing a lot of good stuff from coaches and scouts but things worked out that way."

Shortly after the draft concluded, White fielded a call from nearly every NFL team, all reaching out to gauge his interest in signing as an undrafted free agent. White said he was offered more money elsewhere, but he chose to join the 49ers because San Francisco represented the best opportunity to stick long-term.

"I decided I didn't want to do the money grab," White said. "I made the best choice for my career. I don't regret it at all. I love the facility, I love the program, I love the staff and I love the team."

Although no official stats were taken during the 49ers offseason program, it's a safe bet that White was the most targeted wide receiver throughout the nine-week schedule.

He displayed strong hands, solid route-running, impressive leaping ability, and most importantly, top-end speed. White said he felt no lingering effects from the laundry list of injuries he dealt with in college.

"Oh yeah, I'm good," White said. "I haven't had a problem with my knee since the year I did it or anything else. I'm recovered. I'm full-go."

White appeared to mesh well with all three 49ers quarterbacks. He rarely, if ever, mishandled a pass from Colin Kaepernick, famous for being a gunslinger.