The mantra is simple.

Know what to do. Know how to do it. Do it at a high level.

This is how Quinton Patton has approached every level of football. The sentiment dates back to his prep days in Nashville, Tenn., before his standout years for Louisiana Tech University and on to his three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

The 6-foot, 204-pound wide receiver set career highs in numerous categories this past season. Patton served as the team's No. 3 wideout, recording a career-best, 30 catches, 394 receiving yards and one touchdown grab.

"I'm just grateful for every chance I got to play this year," Patton said at the conclusion of the 2015 regular season. "It was a blessing because I know it can all be taken away in a single snap, in a single second of a single play."

Patton's 2015 statistics show progress from his first two NFL seasons in which he totaled a combined six catches for 78 receiving yards and no touchdowns.

The fourth-round selection in 2013 played behind several wideouts to start his NFL career, namely Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree. In doing so, Patton sharpened his ability to "know what to do" and "know how to do it."

Patton displayed his growth on several occasions during Year 3 of his career. One highlight of the receiver's season was a 21-yard touchdown catch from Colin Kaepernick that provided the game-winning score against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6.

In Week 10, Patton posted a three-catch performance for a career-high 80 yards against the Atlanta Falcons. The game included a career-long, 41-yard grab on a crossing route from Blaine Gabbert.

Beyond those two games, Patton's top moment of the year was perhaps his 33-yard catch and run in Week 17 against the St. Louis Rams. The screen pass to the speedy wideout set up a 23-yard, game-winning overtime field goal from Phil Dawson.

"It felt like I was back in college," Patton said of the key reception. "Those were some of the quick-screen passes that we ran in college, so I was kind of used to it.

"I already knew the feel of the route and everything."

Now Patton is ready to build on his improved season and prove himself to the team's new coaching staff.

"I'm not satisfied," Patton said. "That's just me as a player. I made some plays, but I left a whole lot out there. I want to build on it."

In addition to finding a role in Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense, Patton will also audition to be a gunner on Darius Swinton's special teams unit. Patton posted three tackles as a gunner on punt coverage in 2015.

"It only comes around once in a while in a game, but it's such a good opportunity to go out there and get out on film and let out some of your aggression," the wide receiver said. "Just for one play, you can run out and hit somebody full speed. On offense and defense, you might be in close contact, but when you can really open up and run, you just feel differently."