Tag: Gene Washington

George Kittle could be top 3 pass catcher in 49ers history with big Week 8

George Kittle could surpass a couple of 49ers legends on the all-time receiving yards list with a big game in Week 8.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has a chance to cement himself as a franchise legend with a big game in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Never mind for a moment Kittle’s gregarious personality, which combined with his productivity has already put him in the realm of all-time greats in 49ers history.

A big Week 8 showing could land Kittle at No. 3 in the 49ers’ all-time receiving yards list. He’s entering the week at No. 5, but he needs just 102 yards to leap into the top three.

Here’s what the top-five looks like entering Sunday night’s game:

1. WR Jerry Rice: 19,247
2. WR Terrell Owens: 8,572
3. WR Dwight Clark: 6,750
4. WR Gene Washington: 6,664
5. TE George Kittle: 6,649

Kittle is already more than 1,000 yards clear of Vernon Davis for the most receiving yards by a TE in franchise history.

It’ll be interesting to see if Kittle can eventually track down Owens. Kittle is on track for exactly 1,000 yards in 2024. That would put him at 7,274 yards –leaving him 1,298 yards shy of Owens. Two more years with 650 yards in each season would be enough to climb to No. 2 in 49ers history. He’d need to average 433 yards per season with the 49ers if he plays for three more years in San Francisco.

Before trying to track down Owens, however, Kittle needs to play in Week 8. He’s dealing with a foot sprain that held him out of Wednesday’s practice. He returned Thursday, which is a good sign for his chances to play against the Cowboys and continue his trek up the 49ers’ all-time receiving yards leaderboard.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

 

Every Michigan State football player and coach in the College Football Hall of Fame

Every Michigan State player and coach in the College Football Hall of Fame

With three more Spartans on the ballot for this year’s 2023 College Football Hall of Fame class, it seems like a good time to take a look at the other 10  players and four coaches who have already been enshrined.

Below, we look at the 10 former Michigan State football players in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Former Michigan State Football WR Gene Washington recalls experiences with racism in America

Former Michigan State Football WR Gene Washington discussed experiences with racism in America with Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press.

[jwplayer uiKRAikX]

Former Michigan State WR Gene Washington sat down for a discussion with Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press this week. Gene Washington played WR for the Spartans between 1964 & 1967.

During the discussion, Washington spoke of his own experiences with racism in America, specifically discussing racial segregation. He even talks about the horrific death of George Floyd.

You can read the entire article here.

Here is a quote from George Washington on racism and segregation in the 1960s, per The Detroit Free Press:

“We were always at the mercy of the police people,” he said. “I mean, we had all those segregated laws that we thought were unfair you know in terms of sitting in the back of busses and trains, whites and blacks couldn’t go to school together. … That’s all I experienced when I was growing up down there in segregation. They were quick to write tickets and quick to put you in jail if you didn’t sit in the right place on the bus. And all the restaurants were closed to us as well.”

Gene Washington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1967 NFL Draft and played in the 1969 Super Bowl. Washington also played for the Denver Broncos during the 1973-74 season as well.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Ranking wide receivers drafted by 49ers in 1st-round

The 49ers have selected eight wide receivers in the first round of the NFL draft. We ranked them all.

The 49ers have a glaring need at the top of their wide receiver depth chart and question marks at that spot throughout the roster. With two first-round picks to work with in the 2020 draft and a deep wide receiver class to pick from, it appears San Francisco is primed to use one of those early picks on a pass catcher.

History indicates that may not be the best move for the club. They’ve selected eight wide receivers in the first round since 1962 with only limited success.

None of their first-round receivers have made the Pro Bowl since Jerry Rice, who was selected 35 years ago, and only one of them had a 1,000-yard season.

Drafts of yesteryear have no bearing on this iteration of the 49ers though, and they’re constructed in such a way that a receiver will have a chance to thrive on a Super Bowl-ready team.

Let’s look back at the eight other receivers the 49ers have drafted in the first round and rank them from worst to best.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9