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Josh Hokit played running back for the Fresno State Bulldogs, rushing for 1,260 yards and 17 touchdowns on 303 carries in his four collegiate seasons. He also hauled in 38 receptions for 260 yards, showing off some versatility.
Hokit is learning to play fullback for the San Francisco 49ers after signing as an undrafted free agent last year. While the transition from running back to fullback for the 6-foot-1 and 225-pound player might not seem like too big of a stretch, the 49ers don't utilize typical fullbacks. Just look at
Kyle Juszczyk, who is viewed as a versatile piece on head coach Kyle Shanahan's chessboard. He can run, catch, block, and do it all from multiple spots on the field.
"There's many things about
this fullback position,"
Hokit recently told ABC 30 News in Fresno. "Fullback, in particular, you would think it's a hard-nosed, you meet me in the hole, and the best man wins, for the most part. But this one, you're lined up [at] receiver in the slot. You're lined up at tight end, running back. You're lined up everywhere. And so, it's exciting. It keeps you on your toes.
"It makes you feel involved in the game, unlike other fullback positions where you play about five snaps a game. You make your block; you get out of there. This fullback position, you're playing over 50 percent of snaps in the game, so it keeps you involved, and it's exciting."
Hokit didn't benefit from a full offseason last year, which made the transition to fullback even more challenging.
"You can only learn so much over a Zoom meeting, studying the playbook," Hokit said. "So, it was really difficult, especially (since) our first time repping it in the plays was in [training camp] where in previous years, or even this year, we're in OTAs right now (the interview obviously took place before OTAs were canceled last week). I didn't even get that last year. So, the first time ever practicing these plays was in [training camp]."
When he finally got into the locker room, he admits it was a bit intimidating coming face-to-face with stars like
George Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo. Even hearing Garoppolo speak directly to him via Zoom was a bit surreal.
"Now they're my boys," the fullback said.
Hokit was also asked about the quarterback situation on his team. Garoppolo is slated to be the Week 1 starter, but the 49ers drafted Trey Lance at No. 3 overall to be the eventual successor.
"It's going to bring the best out of both of them," Hokit said. "There's competition. It's going to elevate Jimmy's game, it's going to elevate Trey's game, because that's what competition does, and I'm really excited to see how it turns out and how it plays out."
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history.
A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy.
Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end.
"I
ESPN analyst Matt Miller watches the San Francisco 49ers differently than other teams. As a 49ers fan, he feels more invested in the team's successes and failures than most analysts.
With the draft nearing, Miller made it clear which direction he believes head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch should take with their first pick. In his ESPN mock draft, a seven-round doozy, the analyst had the 49ers selecting former Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.
Miller recently joined the 49ers Webzone "No Huddle" podcast, sharing why he adamantly hopes the team addresses the offensive line at the end of the month.
"So I
It's evident that the San Francisco 49ers engaged in long-term financial planning. Much discussion has centered around the feasibility of the team committing significant financial resources to two wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Some skeptics question the wisdom of such heavy investment in a single position, especially considering that the 49ers handed Samuel a substantial three-year extension merely two years ago.
Adding complexity to this debate is the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, positioning him to become the highest-paid player on the team. He will likely even become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Where he ranks in average salary will depend upon whether he can replicate the stellar performance of his Pro Bowl 2023
We are now nearly two months removed from the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl 58 defeat. The NFL Scouting Combine and the bulk of free agency are in the books. Before we look forward to the NFL Draft, it is important to reflect on the moves that have already occurred. They will provide a better picture of the team's remaining needs heading into the annual rookie selection event.
To review a complete list of the 49ers' offseason moves thus far, you can visit our 2024 free agency tracker.
Key Departures
The most significant departure was Arik Armstead. The defensive tackle's high salary-cap figure and his recent injury history prompted the
