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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- DeForest Buckner is feeling pretty comfortable during his first NFL training camp.The San Francisco 49ers first-round pick is learning the NFL game from his former college coach, Chip Kelly. Hes playing next to one of his best friends and former Oregon teammates Arik Armstead. Jerry Azzinaro, Buckners college position coach, joined Kelly with San Francisco.The familiar faces are helping Buckners play stand out. The seventh-overall pick performed well enough during practice to earn time with the starters during the first week of training camp. In the early going, hes living up to the billing as one of the most highly-touted prospects in the recent NFL draft.(Buckner) worked his way from the third string all the way up to the first string, defensive coordinator Jim ONeil said. We didnt give him anything. He had to earn it. So, he earned our respect. He earned the players respect. I think all of our guys know, we dont care where you were drafted. Youre going to have to earn it. Nothing is going to be given to you and hes done a nice job.Buckner will try to improve the defense that ranked 29th in the NFL in 2015, when the team finished 5-11 and fired coach Jim Tomsula after one season. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound defensive end has been difficult to block for offensive linemen during the first six training camp practices.Hes a good player, Armstead said of his Oregon teammate. I think he showed that in college, came out here day one, is competing and making plays with the ones, with the twos. And I think he earned that to be able to get some reps.The 49ers lost a number of key veterans on defense in recent seasons, including former All-Pros Patrick Willis, Justin Smith and Aldon Smith. Alongside Armstead, a first-round pick in 2015, the 49ers are hoping Buckner turns into a Pro-Bowl caliber player to help rebuild a defense that reached three straight NFC Championship games from 2011 to 2013.Buckner and Armstead spent some of their time off before training camp working out on the sandy beaches of Hawaii. With them was Seattle Pro-Bowl defensive lineman Michael Bennett, who had 10 sacks last season and imparted veteran wisdom to the first- and second-year 49ers.He definitely taught me and Arik a bunch, Bucker said. Even though he plays for the Seahawks, he was really good help, helping us on our pass rush game and everything.The work appears to be paying off for the seventh-overall pick.Buckner was a key player in Kellys final recruiting class in Oregon. He joined the Ducks in 2012, a season before Kelly left to coach the Philadelphia Eagles. Back then, Buckner was a 260-pound pass rusher.Hes grown. Thats the biggest thing, Kelly said. When we first got him, he actually lined up when we first got him at Oregon at outside linebacker for us and then eventually grew into a 305-310 pound defensive lineman. So, just how big he is physically and just that growth and I still think hes got a little bit more to grow. Ron Duguay Jersey . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Jaromir Jagr Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/jesper-fast-hockey-jersey/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Marc Staal Jersey .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Filip Chytil Jersey . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. NEW YORK -- Philipp Grubauer will replace injured goaltender Frederik Andersen and Anze Kopitar will serve as captain for Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey.Andersen suffered an upper-body injury playing for Denmark in Olympic qualifying over the weekend. The Maple Leafs say he will be sidelined for three to four weeks.With Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss of the New York Islanders now competing to start for Europe, Grubauer becomes the third goalttender.dddddddddddd. The Washington Capitals backup put up a 0.67 goals-against average and .970 save percentage as Germany qualified for the 2018 Olympics.Kopitar, captain of the Los Angeles Kings, will wear the C for the team, which includes players from several European countries.The World Cup begins Sept. 17 in Toronto. ' ' '