Even Trent Williams' bias Oklahoma take on Gracen Halton is spot on

Obviously San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams is always going to speak highly of a fellow Sooner, but he's not wrong and he's not the only one this time.

Williams was recently asked which young defensive linemen across the trenches has impressed him the most during fall camp. He immediately answered defensive tackle Gracen Halton, who was just drafted out of Oklahoma in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

“Boomer Sooner. Gracen Halton. You know it. G-Baby, man," Williams said. "Obviously, Oklahoma guy, so I’m always a little biased, but I think the world kinda seen what he has to offer -- very explosive, short-area quickness, really powerful."

Gracen Halton will keep impressing for 49ers

Even the most unbiased of eyes would admit Halton was impressive in his NFL debut last week when the 49ers played the Tennessee Titans in their first preseason game of the year. He recorded four total tackles (two solo) and a tackle for loss while also proving he can stuff run gaps.

Halton's most outstanding play didn't even go down on the stat sheet when he sacked former No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, but the play was erased because of a penalty against a cornerback far from the play. Halton blew past former first-round pick Peter Skoronski, who recently became the highest-paid guard in the league, to get to Ward. Even if it didn't go down as a sack, anyone paying attention saw right there what Halton is already capable of as a rookie.

Read more: First NFL preseason night shows how loaded Oklahoma’s defense was and can still be

Williams, entering Year 16 (!!) as a 12-time Pro Bowler, hasn't been the only one to give kudos to Halton already after just one preseason showing.

"Halton entered the league known for his twitch and skill set to be disruptive as a pass-rusher. He has a quick get-off that allows him to quickly get past a lineman. Yet, the biggest takeaway was his ability to be effective against the run," Niner Noise's Richard Louis wrote. "Halton was great at the point of attack but got off the block to make a play in the run game. That's what will get him on the field more, as his pass-rush skills are already up to par. His performance in this outing was just another example of his strong summer."

Plenty of other reporters who have observed the 49ers' practices have also noted Halton and he garnered even more attention after that first preseason outing.

The NFL preseason is full of overractions based on a minuscule sample size against other backups, but it's more than that with Halton right now. He wasn't out there just a few plays, and he went up against one of the best guards he'll face this face, whether preseason, regular season or postseason. He not only held his own, but dominated and never looked like a rookie. And he's also done that on a daily basis at practice.

The hype on Halton started as soon as he was deemed a steal in the draft. The buzz has then only grown throughout training camp, and Halton's stock still hasn't peaked.

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