Jarryd Hayne a 'target' for NFL bullies

Jarryd Hayne. Photo / Getty Images.

One of Australia's few NFL success stories, Colin Scotts, has warned Jarryd Hayne will have a target on his back as his attempts to break into the San Francisco 49ers fulltime NFL squad.

Hayne has earned a US$100,000 ($128,000) rookie contract with the 49ers and will have up to 20 weeks to prove himself when he starts training in April, before 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula cuts his roster down from 90 to 53 players for the start of the season.

The second Australian to play in the NFL, after trailblazer Colin Ridgway, Scotts believes Hayne could be singled out as an Australian unknown who is yet to prove himself in American football.

"There will be a bit of resentment from some of the guys, 'who is this guy who has never played in the snap?'," Scotts said.

"There will be a bit of 'what are you doing here' like it was when I got a (college) scholarship.

"He will definitely get that resentment but he has thick skin, he should be ok.

"The reality is he just has to go out there and work hard and earn that respect, and take it one day at a time and keep fighting and keep believing in yourself

"He is doing it against the odds, but he is also coming at it with this attitude of 'I've got nothing to lose'."

Scotts said he believed Hayne can crack the NFL, but conceded 27-year-old Hayne's age may be a factor.

"To be honest, he is 27 and that is not the prime age, it is an older age to start," Scotts said.

"That is the only thing that will work against him besides the incurring of serious injury which will be the only downer out of this because if he doesn't make the team he will come back and be a great ambassador for Australia."

Scotts said Hayne's best chance to make the 49ers squad was on special teams as a punt returner.

"I can see him doing that, I really can," he said.

-AAP