Michael Bennett: DeForest Buckner ‘not normal; when you're not normal…'

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49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner grew up in Hawaii.

And he's currently training in his home state with teammate Arik Armstead and Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett.

“I think DeForest, I’m lucky to be working with a guy like that.” Bennett recently told Sam Spangler of KHON2. "I think DeForest will eventually be a defensive player of the year. I think he has the talent to be able to do that.

"I keep telling him there’s nobody like him. He’s not normal."

That's some pretty high praise from a guy who reached the Pro Bowl each of the last two years.

After four years at Oregon, the 49ers took Buckner with the seventh overall pick in the 2016 draft.

He made 15 starts as a rookie and racked up 73 tackles, six sacks and two fumble recoveries.

He was honored with a spot on the NFL's All-Rookie team in a vote of the Pro Football Writers of America.

"His physique, his speed, it’s not normal," Bennett said. "So when you’re not normal you can do not normal things and winning the defensive MVP is not normal for most people.”

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