Dominick Puni

Last updated

Dominick Puni
Dominick Puni 2024 49ers Bears.jpg
Puni with the San Francisco 49ers in 2024
No. 77 – San Francisco 49ers
Position: Guard
Personal information
Born: (2000-02-24) February 24, 2000 (age 25)
St. Charles, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:313 lb (142 kg)
Career information
High school: Francis Howell Central (Cottleville, Missouri)
College:
NFL draft: 2024: 3rd round, 86th pick
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Games played:17
Games started:17
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Dominick Puni ( POU-nee ; born February 24, 2000) is an American professional football guard for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Central Missouri Mules and Kansas Jayhawks.

Contents

Early life

Puni was born on February 24, 2000, in St. Charles, Missouri. [1] He attended Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Missouri. [2]

College career

Puni played college football at the University of Central Missouri from 2018 to 2021. He did not play in 2020 due to the team's season being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and played in only one game in 2021 due to injury. [3] Puni transferred to the University of Kansas in 2022. [4] He started all 24 games he played in during his two years at Kansas. [5] [6] He opted out of the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl in order to prepare for the 2024 NFL draft. [7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5+1⁄8 in
(1.96 m)		313 lb
(142 kg)		33+3⁄8 in
(0.85 m)		10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		5.35 s1.86 s3.13 s4.40 s7.47 s30.0 in
(0.76 m)		8 ft 11 in
(2.72 m)		26 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [8] [9]

Puni was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round with the 86th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. [10] On August 23, he was named the starting right guard for the beginning of the 2024 NFL season. [11] As a rookie, he started in all 17 games in the 2024 season. [12] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. [13]

Personal life

Puni hails from a family of athletes. His parents, Teu and Jessica, were both college athletes at Truman State University. His father was a football player, and his mother played volleyball. His brothers, Derrick and Devin, were also football players, attending Central Missouri, one of the schools Dominic played college football at. His sister, Brianna, was also a college basketball player at Illinois State. [14]

Puni is also the cousin of Buffalo Bills defensive end A. J. Epenesa. [15]

Puni is of Samoan ancestry, and was a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award in 2023. [16]


References

  1. ↑ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2024 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic . p. 140. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  2. ↑ Guskey, Jordan (April 26, 2024). "San Francisco 49ers pick OL Dominick Puni in third round of 2024 NFL Draft. What to know". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  3. ↑ Erickson, Ethan (December 13, 2023). "St. Louis native, Kansas lineman Dominick Puni collecting honors ahead of NFL bid". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  4. ↑ Andrews, Joe (July 6, 2022). "Former Mules starting left tackle lands spot at Kansas" . Warrensburg Star-Journal. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ Guskey, Jordan (November 25, 2023). "With Kansas football, Dominick Puni has helped set himself up for a chance in the NFL". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ Erickson, Ethan (October 20, 2023). "St. Louis native, Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni climbing NFL draft boards". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  7. ↑ Laddha, Shreyas (December 24, 2023). "Kansas Jayhawks football's Dominick Puni, Austin Booker opt out of Guaranteed Rate Bowl". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Dominick Puni Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Dominick Puni College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  10. ↑ Posey, Kyle (April 26, 2024). "49ers trade up with the Eagles to pick No. 86 to select Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni". Niners Nation. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  11. ↑ Chan, Jennifer Lee (August 23, 2024). "How Puni's hard work translated into starting role as rookie". NBC Sports Bay Area & California. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Dominick Puni 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  13. ↑ McDonald, Briana (January 22, 2025). "Fred Warner and Dominick Puni Earn 2024 PFWA Honors". 49ers.com. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  14. ↑ "5 Things to Know: Offensive Lineman Dominick Puni". www.49ers.com. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  15. ↑ Madson, Kyle. "49ers NFL draft picks: 5 things to know about OL Dominick Puni". Niners Wire. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Dominick Puni Named Polynesian Player of the Year Finalist". University of Kansas. December 7, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
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