Mountaineers in the Pros: Colton McKivitz to Make First Career NFL Start for San Francisco This Week

Former West Virginia offensive tackle and current San Francisco 49ers rookie Colton McKivitz will make his first career professional start this Sunday, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Friday.

Colton McKivitz will indeed make his first career start at RG for the 49ers against the Rams, Shanahan said

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 27, 2020

McKivitz is getting the chance to start because regular starter Tom Compton is dealing with a concussion. The 49ers play the L.A. Rams Sunday at 4 p.m., meaning McKivitz will be matched up against former Pitt Panther and all-pro defensive tackle Aaron Doland.

The 49ers selected McKivitz in the fifth round (153 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft in April.

McKivitz started all 12 games at left tackle for the Mountaineers in 2019, transitioning from the right side where he played in 2018. Despite the change, McKivitz was as solid as ever, being named an AP Third-Team All-American, First Team All-Big 12 and the Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year.

After redshirting in 2015, the Jacobsburg, Ohio native proved extremely reliable and durable for the Mountaineers, starting the final 47 consecutive games of his career.