Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Thursday, June 15, 2000

Ex-Rainbow
Owen cut by 49ers

Three other players with ties to
Hawaii will make the trip to training
camp with San Francisco

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Former University of Hawaii center Dustin Owen was cut yesterday by the San Francisco 49ers, but three other players with Hawaii ties will go to training camp with the NFL team next month.

Making the cut with the 49ers were ex-Rainbows Jeff Ulbrich (middle linebacker) and Dwight Carter (wide receiver) and former Farrington High and University of California fullback Josh White.

Ulbrich is in contention for a starting spot at linebacker while Carter, a free agent signee, could wind up filling San Francisco's need for a kick returner.

White, who is also a free agent, is one of four fullbacks who will go to camp next month. The others are veterans Fred Beasley and Terry Jackson and rookie Dyral McMillan.

"We're looking for him (White) to move people out of the hole," said 49ers running backs coach Tom Rathman last month.

"There are some things he needs to get better at. But overall I think he kind of fits our offense so that's one reason why we ended up signing him."

San Francisco will keep only two fullbacks, according to Rathman.

During the recent mini-camp, White said he wound up blocking three-time Pro Bowler Ken Norton Jr. a couple of times during drills, and caught a few passes during a seven-on-seven scrimmage.

"He has to develop but he is a big enough kid," Rathman said of White. "I think he's capable. We wouldn't have signed him if we didn't think he was."

Rathman said he thinks White needs to get better at catching the ball.

With Beasley set to start again at fullback, Jackson and White are in contention for the No. 2 spot.