Hill returns to San Francisco

Former Washington State University wide receiver Jason Hill was disappointed he didn’t go earlier in the NFL Draft, but he probably couldn’t have hand-picked a better destination.

Hill, a two-sport prep standout in the Bay Area, was snatched up by his hometown San Francisco 49ers in the third round with the 76th selection overall. Hill, WSU’s all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdown catches, was the 13th receiver selected and the fourth in a four-receiver run in the third round.

“It means a ton,” Hill said. “Playing in front of my family, I seem to play well. Some of my biggest games have come in front of my family – the Colorado game, the Cal game last year at Cal and the Idaho game when I had three catches and three touchdowns. I tend to play better in front of my family so coming here (San Francisco) is great.”

Hill was surrounded by family and friends at his draft party Saturday at the San Francisco Ramada. Hill was a basketball and football standout at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep and was runner-up for football player of the year honors in the city of San Francisco as a senior.

Some mock drafts listed Hill as a second-round pick. He sounded a bit irritated that he didn’t go until the third.

“I’ll be ready to go,” Hill told Bay Area reporters on a conference call. “I plan on making a splash. I don’t plan on playing like a third-round pick.”

The 49ers have assembled impressive talent on the offensive side of the ball in the previous two drafts. Hill joins quarterback Alex Smith (first pick overall in 2005), running back Frank Gore (third round in 2005) and tight end Vernon Davis (sixth pick overall in 2006).

Gore led San Francisco in receptions last season, followed by Arnaz Battle. Antonio Bryant, who led the team in receiving yardage, was cut last month. The 49ers are also interested in trading for Seattle Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson.

“It is going to be good, everyone has a free shot,” Hill said. “I talked to (49ers receivers) Coach (Jerry) Sullivan and he let me know it is an open competition. I told him all I am going to do is perform, not like a third-round pick, but like a top 10 pick.”

Hill, a three-time All-Pac-10 Conference selection, caught 148 passes for 2,704 yards in his WSU career. His 32 career touchdowns are tied for second most in Pac-10 history. He had 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2004 and 2005. He missed the last two games of the 2006 season with an ankle injury and finished with 600 yards receiving. Hill was the only athlete from an area college drafted on the first day.