49ers rookie receiver impresses Rice

49ers rookie receiver impresses Rice
By Daniel Brown Mercury News

Like most young receivers, Josh Morgan grew up a Jerry Rice fan.

Turns out, the feeling is mutual.

Rice said Wednesday that he has been impressed by the 49ers' sixth-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech. He thinks Morgan could make an immediate impact.

"I'm expecting him to do some great things this year,'' Rice said.

Morgan has nine catches for 182 yards over the 49ers' first three exhibition games. An illness has kept him off the field this week and he will not play Friday in the exhibition finale against the San Diego Chargers at Candlestick Park.

Still, Rice has seen plenty. "He's been very productive and he has a big frame,'' he said of the 6-foot, 219-pound Morgan.

He also likes the way the rookie made use of the extra playing time he got because of injuries to other receivers.

"It was a great opportunity for him,'' Rice said. "I think it would be a great opportunity for me, too." He was joking — presumably — about another comeback. Rice turns 46 on Oct. 13.

The NFL's all-time leading receiver was in Santa Clara to promote the Capital City Football Classic to be played at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento on Sept. 13.

The game between Texas Southern University and Shaw University is designed to show Northern California the "culture, history and pageantry'' of football at historically black colleges, according to organizers.

Rice, who went to Mississippi Valley State, said: "I want the fans to come out and support it because it's going to be the experience of a lifetime." Rice's daughter, Jaqui, will sing the national anthem. Information is available at www.capitalcityfootballclassic.com.

# Coach Mike Nolan said he plans to wear suits at all of the 49ers' home games this season. He will not wear them on the road, despite getting conditional approval from the NFL. The league said that on the road, he would have to wear Reebok apparel over his suit jacket. Nolan said he'd rather not go for the "Mr. Rogers look."

# Quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan is a starter for the first time, but he still cringes at the thought of cut-down day. Saturday marks the day rosters are trimmed to 53, and he knows the pain of missing the cut.

"Everyone in the country knows you just got fired,'' O'Sullivan said. "It's put in the paper. I check the transactions. That's just the way "... that's what happens. You get fired. It's embarrassing. That's how I look at it."

# Besides Morgan, four other players were declared out for Friday's game: returner Allen Rossum (chest contusion), guard Adam Snyder (ankle), tackle Jonas Jennings (hand) and safety Keith Lewis (chest).

# Nolan said the starting unit will play one series to one quarter against the Chargers.

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/ci_10319898