SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Any contribution the San Francisco 49ers got from receiver Ricky Pearsall last season was viewed as a positive after his rookie campaign got derailed when he got shot in the chest a week before the opener.
The 49ers are counting heavily on Pearsall this season as they need him to elevate his performance in year two after they traded away Deebo Samuel and are expecting to be without Brandon Aiyuk for most of the first half of the season.
“To be honest, I’m approaching it the same exact way,” Pearsall said. “Whether those guys are in the room or not, that’s just how I look at myself. I just got to be able to step in that role. That’s just how I look at it."
Pearsall is one of several second-year players being counted on for major breakthroughs this season. The flashes they showed as rookies now need to lead to more consistent performances this season.
Here's a look at some of the top breakout candidates:
Pearsall didn't even make his debut last season until Week 7 and then had only two catches over a five-game stretch from Week 11 through 15. But he showed why he was a first-round pick with his performance in the final two weeks of the season when he had 14 catches for 210 yards and two TDs.
Pearsall spent extra time in the offseason working with quarterback Brock Purdy to build chemistry and has been the team's best wideout early in training camp as he has shown repeatedly his ability to get open down the field to create big plays.
The 33rd pick in last year's draft had only 29 catches on 57 targets as a rookie as he was unable to fill the void created when the Bills traded away Stefon Diggs.
Buffalo thrived without consistent production from Coleman thanks in part to a big season from Khalil Shakir, but the Bills will need another top outside threat if they want to get over the hump and make it to the Super Bowl. Coleman is the best choice for that thanks to his big frame and ability to make contested catches down field.
The 11th pick in last year's draft started just seven games as a rookie as the team eased his transition to the NFL behind veteran tackles Tyronn Smith and Morgan Moses.
That won't be the case this season when Fashanu is slated to start at left tackle across from rookie Armand Membou as New York hopes it has found its bookend tackles for years to come.
Fashanu was solid as a rookie, especially in his five starts at left tackle after Smith got hurt, but now needs to do it for a full season if New York wants to have success on offense behind new QB Justin Fields.
The third-round pick out of Houston Christian was a pleasant surprise in his limited action as a rookie with 1 1/2 sacks in the regular season and then 1 1/2 more in the playoffs.
Hunt has gone from a bit of a luxury to more of a necessity after the Eagles lost Josh Sweat to free agency, Brandon Graham to retirement and traded away Bryce Huff. Hunt is slated to start this season but could be pushed by veteran acquisitions Joshua Uche and Azeez Ojulari.
The first defensive player taken in the 2024 draft had a relatively quiet rookie season with four sacks and 38 pressures. But a year of experience and the change in scheme under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo should help Latu emerge as one of the better young pass rushers.
Injuries limited Robinson to six games as a rookie and his impact was minimal with just one sack and two pressures. Robinson is now part of a revamped defensive front that the Cardinals hope can lead the team back to the postseason. A healthy season and the addition of veterans Sweat, Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson should open things up for Robinson.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson sprays water on his back during practice at the team's NFL football training camp Thursday, July 31, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall speaks during a press conference after practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--
Ionic Mineral Technologies ("Ionic MT"), a pioneer in developing one of the world’s most comprehensive hubs for rare earths and critical minerals, today announced the appointment of Shane Porzio as its Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective January 5, 2026. Mr. Porzio will lead the Company's operational scale-up from pilot to full commercial production of its nano-silicon, high-purity alumina, and rare earth elements derived from its proprietary Utah-based halloysite clay resources.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260115244096/en/
Mr. Porzio brings over two decades of executive leadership in global chemical and advanced materials companies, with a distinguished tenure at BASF where he served as Vice President and Global Business Head for Kaolin Minerals. In this role, he managed a global P&L across five plants and three mines, tripling EBITDA by refocusing investments into high-growth segments and securing major capital programs. His direct experience in the mining, processing, and commercial application of kaolin clay—a mineralogically similar aluminosilicate to Ionic MT's halloysite—provides a foundational understanding critical to accelerating the Company's proprietary extraction and refinement processes.
Andre Zeitoun, Founder and CEO of Ionic MT, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome Shane to the COO role in this pivotal moment for Ionic MT. His vast experience is a direct match for our mission: he has scaled mineral processing operations and commercialized disruptive materials on a global stage. His specific background in kaolin clay at BASF is invaluable, as he understands the geology, mineralogy, and processing pathways that are directly applicable to unlocking our halloysite deposits."
At Ionic MT, Mr. Porzio will be responsible for all operational facets of scaling the Company's three core product lines: rare earths, alumina, and nano-silicon. His mandate includes leading the scale-up of commercial production in Provo, establishing rigorous EH&S and quality management systems for the automotive battery sector, and driving vertical integration from feedstock to finished battery-grade material. His proven experience in post-merger integration (PMI) and capital project execution will also be key as the Company pursues strategic growth initiatives.
"I am thrilled to join Ionic MT at this inflection point," said Shane Porzio. "The Company's technology represents a genuine leap forward in sustainable critical minerals production. My experience in taking complex mineral systems from the lab to global markets, particularly with layered aluminosilicates, at multi-million-ton scale aligns perfectly with the challenge ahead. I look forward to working with Andre and the talented team to build a reliable, scalable, and cost-competitive supply chain that strengthens American energy independence."
Mr. Porzio's career includes transformational leadership roles as President & CEO of Profile Products, where he launched and scaled a new global business unit to millions in revenue within 12 months, and as Global Senior Vice President at Vantage Specialty Chemicals. He holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the University of Akron, an MBA from Wake Forest University and a B.S. in Anthropology and Chemistry from Beloit College.
About Ionic Mineral Technologies
Ionic Mineral Technologies is a U.S.-based, vertically integrated producer of advanced critical materials essential to energy storage, national defense, and clean manufacturing. Backed by permitted domestic mineral resources and proprietary processing technologies, the company is scaling production of 16 rare earth and critical minerals, Ionisil™ nano-silicon, and IonAl™ high-purity alumina—three of the most strategically important components for next-generation battery and defense technologies. Ionic MT’s asset-backed, multi-product platform offers a secure and scalable alternative to geopolitically vulnerable global supply chains. Learn more at https://ionicmt.com/.
Shane Porzio, Chief Operating Officer at Ionic Mineral Technologies
