Description
Michael Wilhoite is a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washburn University where he played six different positions, including linebacker and safety. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League (UFL) in 2011. On December 14, 2011, Wilhoite was signed to the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers.
Wilhoite, a quarterback and outstanding basketball player at Manhattan High School, moved to Topeka and lived with his grandparents for his senior year because he wanted to play basketball at Highland Park for coach Ken Darting, a friend of his father’s. But football would be his college sport, and he played a handful of positions in six years at Washburn, counting two redshirt years because of injury.
Wilhoite’s athletic ability, versatility and unselfishness hurt him despite an outstanding NFL Pro Day in 2011. He was seen as a player without a position. “To help the team, I had to play different positions,” Wilhoite said. “It wasn’t about me or what I was going to do after college. To me, it was about winning as many games as possible as a college athlete. If that meant playing free safety or defensive end, or quarterback, whatever they asked me to play, I was going to play. It’s the same thing I would do here.”
The talented linebacker was waived by the San Francisco 49ers for final roster cuts before the start of the 2012 season, but was signed back to the practice squad on September 1, 2012. After being on the practice squad for twelve weeks in 2012, he was promoted to the 49ers active roster. He finished with 11 tackles and made several key plays on special teams during the 49ers run to Super Bowl XLVII.
In the 2014 season, Michael Wilhoite was a huge part of the Niners defense starting 16 games, notching 87 tackles, six passes defended and two picks. Wilhoite had some very strong games, against both the run and pass. He particularly showed an ability to cover receivers. In the season finale, a 20-17 victory over Arizona, Wilhoite had nine tackles and an interception, and Pro Football Focus graded him excellent in coverage, naming him to its All-Star Team of the Week. “It was in coverage where Wilhoite shined,” the PFF report noted, “allowing just 17 yards from four receptions and coming away with an interception.”
The featured San Francisco 49ers 2013 International Series 2XL Shirt was issued to Michael Wilhoite on the 49ers trip to London, England. The 49ers faced the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 27th, 2013. San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick did it all, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another to lead the San Francisco 49ers to their fifth straight victory, 42-10 over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Kaepernick ended up with 164 yards passing and 54 yards rushing, Frank Gore also ran for two scores and 71 yards, while Kendall Hunter rushed for 84 yards for the 49ers. San Francisco Linebacker Dan Skuta scored the final points, recovering a fumble and running it back 47 yards for a touchdown after Marcedes Lewis let the ball loose following a 6-yard completion from Henne. Wilhoite has signed the back of the shirt and added “Go 49ers Gametime” in black. Nice unique item from the International Series!
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