DL Gracen Halton Press Conference

DL Gracen Halton

Press Conference – April 25, 2026

San Francisco 49ers

Where are you right now?

“I’m out here in San Diego, California.”

What’s your background as far as which teams you rooted for growing up?

“Yeah. I was a Cowboys fan, with my dad and then, right when I got to high school and stuff, I really just didn’t have a team and, was just watching the NFL.”

Did you have a sense that the 49ers were circling you in the run up to the draft?

“No, I didn’t. I didn’t expect the 49ers, but it’s a blessing just getting the call. Knowing that I’m going somewhere, having somebody that believes in me, so I’m ready to get to work.”

What was your experience with Oklahoma like, how would you summarize it? How you developed as a player?

“Yeah, it was great. Going in freshman year to senior year, had a lot of things to overcome. I did it. I’m glad. I was at the right school to do what I needed to do. And I had a great experience.”

So many players now are transferring. What does it say about you that you stayed four years at the same spot?

“Yeah, man, just talks about my heart, my mindset what it’s like when things get hard, you got to overcome. When adversity hits you, you got to find another way to overcome what you need to do. So, you know things got harder in Oklahoma, I just kept on going, had the horse blinders on and kept on moving forward.”

You’re talking about adversity. Can you share with us what you’re talking about?

“Yeah, just like not playing my freshman, sophomore year. Going in from high school, wanting to play right away. I moved from D-tackle, so I had to learn all the techniques, everything else to get on the field, and I just worked at it, worked at my game. I got on the field and did what I do.”

Why was it important for you to be a team captain?
“It was very important, just preaching what my head coach is saying in the locker room. Having guys that believe in you and that you can lead a team knowing you have guys that are watching you from behind and you’re making the right moves, just guiding the team to where you want to go.”

Do you recall having much interaction with the 49ers during the Draft process?
“No, not at all. No, I probably talked to them once or twice. We had the Senior Bowl and the Combine, so in between there for sure.”

Do you remember anything about that meeting?
“No.”

What do about their defense and their defensive style?
“I know that they attack, they’re hungry, got some hungry guys on the side of the ball that’s ready to go make plays. They just added one more.”

Does that suit you, their full speed ahead style from the inside?

“Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Get off that rock. Go make a play.”

Is 49ers DL Osa Odighizuwa a player you watched the last few years? How familiar are you with him?

“Yeah, just one of the guys that adds equity, so, been watching him for quite a while. He’s explosive and can get off the ball to make plays.”

Is there a defensive tackle in the league today that you kind of pattern yourself after or see a lot of yourself in?

“No, sir. Myself, Gracen Halton.”

Well, tell us about Gracen Halton. What do you bring to the table?

“Yeah, explosive, hunger mindset, wanting to go make a play and just having fun. Really explosive, having that mindset where it’s a dog-eat-dog world. You know, dogs prevail, you have to go make it, have to go get off that play.”

You’re described in the draft writeup as a fan favorite at Oklahoma because of your energy and your enthusiasm. Where does that come from and is that something that you sort of feasted off of from the crowds and fans?

“Yeah, no, I’m just having fun. That’s football. It’s fun to me. I’m going out there, doing what I love, so that’s just what comes with it, having fun with the game.”

What was the biggest learning curve for you, moving from defensive end to D-tackle? Is there any part of your skillset that you think benefits you, even in that transition to inside?

“Yeah, really just learning the different techniques. I feel like it’s given me a better way to, come from being a defensive tackle, just knowing two positions. Just knowing that I can rush from a five, can rush from a three, can rush from a two, can rush from a zero. I can rush from anywhere. I make plays anywhere on the line.”