SANTA CLARA — Seven months before cornerback Upton Stout became a member of the 49ers as a third-round draft pick, he made a strong first impression with his future position coach.

Ray Brown was on the sideline as defensive backs coach at Boston College for a late-September game against Western Kentucky. Stout was the vocal leader in the secondary for the Hilltoppers.

“He was a guy I noticed from the sideline, and I rarely ever watch when our offense is on the field because I’m busy trying to figure out what our guys are doing and how we can tweak some things for ourselves,” said Brown, who coached 15 seasons in the college ranks before joining the 49ers in February as cornerbacks coach.

“But I noticed Upton.”

Stout had a solid game in Western Kentucky’s 21-20 loss at Boston College.

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