NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Three weeks into his first season in the National Football League, Justin Skule was suddenly in the starting lineup.
He had played a total of 21 snaps on offense before a Sept. 22 matchup with Pittsburgh. But that day the San Francisco rookie offensive lineman helped the 49ers to a win by playing all 79 snaps at left tackle.
He’s been an integral part of the 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl ever since.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Skule told VUCommodores.com. “As a kid you grow up dreaming of playing in the Super Bowl, so to have the chance to be able to go and do that is a dream come true. Just got to go end it the right way and win.”
A 6-foot-6, 318-pound product of Clifton, Virginia, Skule played in 17 games this season. From Sept. 22 to Nov. 24 he started eight games for the 49ers and played 525 offensive snaps while still contributing on special teams.
Impressive for a sixth-round NFL Draft pick (183rd overall) who never even made an all-conference team as a Vanderbilt Commodore.
“It’s not exactly what you expect when the season starts but it’s pretty good. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of good experience playing. Now it’s just doing what I can to help the team win,” Skule said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s been a huge rollercoaster, but it’s definitely not exactly what you’d expect. I couldn’t have asked for it to be any other way.”
Justin Skule has performed admirably since taking over for Staley in week 2. Does some really nice things in the running game in particular. I think SF found their new swing tackle. pic.twitter.com/bsOr0ijExA
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) October 23, 2019
#49ers Justin Skule does some self evaluation following his first start with the team. pic.twitter.com/1X4NJFPeol
— Scott Young (@FakeScottYoung) September 24, 2019
Skule played as a true freshman for Vanderbilt in 2015 before an injury cut his debut campaign short. But between 2016-18 he started 38 straight games, protecting quarterback Kyle Shurmur in the passing game and opening holes for Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Ralph Webb and Khari Blasingame and others in the running attack.
Facing defensive linemen in the SEC was tough. Facing the best defensive linemen in the country on a weekly basis is a different challenge altogether.
Skule allowed his first career sack to Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams one week after facing Cleveland star Myles Garrett.
“It’s tough. It’s exactly what you’d expect,” Skule said. “They’re some of the best defensive linemen in the world – some of them are the best players in the world. Going up against them and trying to prepare for them is tough. But it’s what you sign up for.
“I’ve learned a lot. It’s hard to pinpoint a few things. I think I’ve learned so much from the great coaches with the 49ers as well as learning from a lot of veteran guys, too, has been fantastic since I’ve been here.”
Skule still tries to keep up with Vanderbilt football as best he can and thanked former Vandy tight end Jared Pinkney for keeping him up-to-date during the 2019 season. Skule faced former Commodores Oren Burks and Trent Sherfield twice this past season and has become friends with veteran Jordan Matthews who joined the organization in December.
Now all eyes will be the rookie who went from the West End to the Super Bowl in one short year.
“It’s another game. We’re going down there to play a football game,” Skule said. “We’re just going to focus like it’s any other week. We’re playing a great team. So just getting ready to go down there and play our best football we can.”
Rookie offensive lineman Justin Skule gets the crowd pumped up on first day of #49ers training camp. pic.twitter.com/RX7WiFgGur
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) July 27, 2019
MATTHEWS, SHURMUR, SMITH PART OF BIG GAME
Skule won’t be the only Commodore involved in Super Bowl XIV.
Shurmur, Matthews and Emmanuel Smith are all part of the two franchises in Sunday’s big game – Matthews with San Francisco and Shurmur and Smith with Kansas City.
Shurmur is in his rookie season with the Chiefs. The former record-setting Vandy quarterback was signed by KC as an undrafted free agent, released by the organization in November and resigned to the team’s practice squad later that month.
A graduate of La Salle Prep in Philadelphia, Shurmur is Vanderbilt’s all-time leader in career passing yards (8,865), completions (722) and touchdowns 64.
Matthews was selected 42nd overall by Philadelphia in the 2014 NFL Draft. Since he’s played for Buffalo, New England, San Francisco and Philadelphia again before returning to the 49ers.
The 2015 season was Matthews’ best as the Alabama native made 85 catches for 997 yards and scored eight touchdowns for Philadelphia. He started this season with the Eagles before signing with San Francisco in December – he has yet to be active for the 49ers.
Smith’s senior season for Vanderbilt included 57 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in 10 games. He signed with Atlanta as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and joined the Chiefs after being released by Tampa Bay before the start of the 2019 season.
Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com. Follow him @MrChadBishop.
