(04-27-2013 03:24 PM)smackdaddy Wrote:  ^^ And of course when I say, "maybe Rice will start getting some pub as Tight End U,"

I think you mean Lovett College being Tight End College. Casey, McDonald, and Willson are all Lovett men.

(04-26-2013 07:44 PM)That Guy 2012 Wrote:  Highest since Bert Emanuel, #45 in '94

(04-26-2013 07:25 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Wow. Highest Rice pick since Earl Cooper?

And Courtney Hall was #37 in 1989.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_NFL_Draft#Round_two

Congrats to Vance!!!!

I hope I'm not confusing anyone by doing this, but it seems to me that this thread was getting away from us all being rightfully excited for Vance...

I didn't see this on any of the threads, but here's an NFC West draft analysis with some positive remarks on Vance and Luke:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/...est-grades

McDonald also received positive reviews from the 49ers rookie camp.

http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/matt-maio...-head-head

http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Vanc...7cbb292aca

“I think the role I filled at Rice got me prepared for this job,” said McDonald, who is also open to special teams duties with the 49ers.

Vance quickly became a favorite of one of the top sports-talk hosts in the Bay Area, former NBA player Tom Tolbert. He's had Vance on the air several times (and I just have the radio on when I'm driving, so I could have missed a lot) and they've both established a genuine rapport.

I see only one online, but it's the first interview, shortly after the draft: http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skin...&f=1351141

(It starts after a long sitar intro.) At 3:03, Tom gets into Vance's background, and his "research" had indicated that Vance was a walk on. The reactions of both are wonderful.

WTG, Vance! Love hearing you on KNBR.

My father (Annapolis grad) said the same thing about James Casey... not much "coach speak"... articulate and interesting. MUCH better than the same old boring crap you get from everyone else. I'm telling you.... there is a market for Rice players

More.

http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Rook...7283b06286

Congrats to Vance..$3.6M for four-years with just under a $1M sign-on bonus.

http://www.ninersnation.com/2013/5/23/43...d-contract

Also, a very intriguing opportunity potentially available to him, unfortunately due to the loss of Michael Crabtree to the Achilles tear. They need another receiver to step up. Regular people may think it needs to be another WR. But they need that someone to make catches in traffic, and if he steps up, the opportunity can be there. They certainly use Davis and used Walker as receivers in the right matchups.

(05-23-2013 07:21 PM)gsloth Wrote:  Also, a very intriguing opportunity potentially available to him, unfortunately due to the loss of Michael Crabtree to the Achilles tear. They need another receiver to step up. Regular people may think it needs to be another WR. But they need that someone to make catches in traffic, and if he steps up, the opportunity can be there. They certainly use Davis and used Walker as receivers in the right matchups.

As oracled by gsloth a couple months ago, with Crabtree out until November the 49ers are looking to keep their best skill players on the field by sliding Vernon Davis to WR. That's *HUGE* news for Vance, likely getting him on the field for tons more plays at TE (and possibly split out in the slot himself).

Here's the ESPN article. It doesn't mention VMcD, but it explains their thinking towards Davis (and McD seems clearly the beneficiary as no WR is going to slide over to TE). VERNON DAVIS WORKS AT WR IN CAMP

From Peter King at SF camp yesterday (and in today's MMQB):

Quote:One more thing about Niners camp on Sunday: Anyone who watched practice understood why Jim Harbaugh chose Kaepernick over Alex Smith last November. In a half-hour span Kaepernick flicked five sizzling passes of 21 yards or more, right on target, throwing three of the receivers open in very tight coverage. With a needy receiver corps until Crabtree returns (and maybe longer), Kaepernick’s going to have to make the most of some fledgling receivers. From the looks of practice, one of the newbies, second-round tight end Vance McDonald from Rice, could get a very long look in the preseason.

source: http://mmqb.si.com/2013/07/29/anquan-bol...&eref=sihp