Running Down Hill

From Curtis Conway to Johnnie Morton to Brandon Lloyd to Cedrick Wilson to Arnaz Battle to Antonio Bryant, the 49ers have cycled through receivers who were washed up (Conway and Morton) or problematic (Lloyd and Bryant) or just not cut out to be starters (see first-round wasted pick Rashaun Woods).

The 49ers are one of just four teams without a 1,000-yard receiver over the past three seasons

While the short term solutions seem to be established veteran newcomer, Darrell Jackson, from Seattle, as the assumed number 1 man, and speedster journeyman Ashlie Lelie, as a deep threat, the future is in the hands of the "third" guy" - Jason Hill. Hill could be the guy who becomes Alex Smith's main man over the next five or six years.

The former Washington State standout looks like a great find in this year's third round. A local product out of Sacred Heart Cathedral High School, Hill quickly became a star at WSU. He started as a sophomore, setting a school record with 12 touchdown catches and becoming the sixth Cougar to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. He followed that with an equally great junior season, again going over 1,000 yards (1,097) with 62 catches and ranking third in the nation in yards per game (109.7).

He contemplated going pro after that campaign but decided to return for his senior season in hopes of improving his draft stock. Alas, the ever-feared injury bug hit. He still put up respectable numbers (41 catches, 600 yards, seven scores), but not enough to bump him into the second or third round.

Hill finished as WSU's career leader in touchdown catches (32) and then turned in an unexpectedly good combine performance that seemed like it might vault him into the second round. But he was still there for the 49ers in the third round, and that should turn out to be the team's fortune.Hill showed blazing speed at the combine, but that is not his forte. He is a great leaper who gets into and out of his routes smoothly and runs well after the catch. Like Jackson, he has had problems catching the ball at times; but his production speaks for itself, and he certainly knows how to get into the endzone. He is a decent deep threat and is not afraid to go over the middle.

Hill has been compared to Reggie Wayne (both are 6 feet) and Chad Johnson, and if Hill can come close to the production of either of those guys or even a healthy Jackson, the 49ers should be very happy they spent a third-rounder on him.