One of the main plus points from the San Francisco 49ers' preseason opener with the Tennessee Titans was how many rookies stood out.

Guards Dominick Puni and Jarrett Kingston each posted a clean sheet in terms of pressures allowed, Puni's performance another step towards the third-rounder earning the starting right guard job. 

Second-round pick Renardo Green played 61 snaps and showed his versatility in rotating between outside corner and the slot, while seventh-rounder Tatum Bethune put together a superb display at linebacker that likely contributed to the 49ers cutting veteran special teamer Ezekiel Turner this week.

But the rookie who delivered the play that attracted the most attention was fourth-round safety Malik Mustapha, who forced a turnover on downs in the red zone in the second quarter when he rapidly broke downhill to meet Hassan Haskins in the backfield, delivering a punishing hit on the Titans running back in an emphatic demonstration of why the 49ers think so highly of the Wake Forest product.

"The goal line stand was an unbelievable play," said head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday. "We had a missed assignment, so we had no edge player. So, he was actually the middle third guy and just filled it real fast in a blink and he knows how to hit. So, it was nice the guy went backwards."

You can afford to have your edge player get completely washed away when your safety can do this. pic.twitter.com/QvJm3AqPYN

— Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24) August 15, 2024

As far as his overall performance, Shanahan and defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen had similar assessments.

"He had no hesitation," Shanahan added. "He’s a hitter, but sometimes guys get in that first game and they slow down a little bit and he was the opposite."

On Wednesday, Sorensen said of Mustapha: "Someone who cut it loose the entire game and played physical. The stuff that we saw on tape in college, why we loved him, really a violent player. He played smart too, as far as being able to communicate, being in the right spots, that he didn’t hesitate and played with the violent finishes that you saw and everyone saw. It was really cool. Really, he had a good game."

Communication and playing with zero hesitation. They're qualities the 49ers want from their safeties, which San Francisco's likely starters at the position have each displayed regularly.

Hesitation has never been a part of Talanoa Hufanga's game. The 2021 fifth-round pick was a first-team All-Pro in his first season as a starter in 2022 as a result of his success in blending his awareness with decisiveness and physicality.

Assuming Hufanga is cleared to return from a torn ACL in time for Week 1, he will partner Ji'Ayir Brown, a player many are backing for a breakout year, at safety. Brown only started five regular-season games last year after Hufanga was lost for the season, but his blend of instincts and athletic gifts superior to those of Hufanga saw him shine and was key to his interception of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.

The odds are Mustapha won't see much playing time on defense in 2024, provided both Brown and Hufanga can stay healthy, but he produced other plays that suggested he will be able to replicate their decisiveness if needed this coming season.

A more subtle demonstration of his lack of hesitation came on this play in pass coverage, with the 49ers rotating to a three-deep look at the snap, Mustapha quickly broke downhill on a quick throw to the outside, getting himself in perfect position to hammer the receiver had the ball been caught.

Not a difficult play for him to read, but this is a good example of Mustapha being decisive in coverage, really fast break on the ball as the 49ers rotate at the snap. Terrific closing speed, would have clobbered the receiver had it been caught. pic.twitter.com/czO1uxl9gX

— Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24) August 15, 2024

It was not a difficult play for Mustapha to read but, because of his speed in doing so and in making the correct play, it should serve as an encouraging sign that he has the same instincts as Hufanga and Brown to blossom into an impact player at safety in relatively short order. 

Mustapha might not be needed at safety very often as a rookie but, with Hufanga a free agent next offseason, chances are his number will be called by the 49ers in 2025. It was just one preseason game, but Mustapha's early progress indicates he will be ready to thrive if and when that happens.

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