Aiyuk is only the second alum from a Northern Nevada high school to become a first-round NFL draft pick. Former DT Shawn Knight (Reed HS, NV) was drafted by the New Orleans Saints 11th overall in the 1987 NFL Draft.
Golden Nuggets
His last name is pronounced EYE-yook.
Aiyuk is only the second alum from a Northern Nevada high school to become a first-round NFL draft pick. Former DT Shawn Knight (Reed HS, NV) was drafted by the New Orleans Saints 11th overall in the 1987 NFL Draft.
Goldmine
Though he grew up in Nevada, Aiyuk has roots in Northern California. He attended Sierra (Rocklin, CA) College from 2016-17, where the 49ers spent training camp from 1981-1997. Additionally, Aiyuk began supporting the 49ers at a young age, thanks to his mom. "My mom's been a huge 49ers fan her whole life, so that kind of bled on me a little bit when I was younger," said Aiyuk. When he got the call informing him that he would be a member of the team, Aiyuk realized a childhood dream that he wasn't sure would come true. "There were a lot of people telling me before today and all week that it was going to happen. So, it's crazy that it actually did happen."
During his time at Sierra College and later Arizona State, Aiyuk was known for his work ethic on and off the field. Ben Noonan, who coached Aiyuk at Sierra College, found Aiyuk in the weight room constantly, improving his squat from 275 pounds coming out of high school to 500 pounds by May 2017. That drive carried over to the practice field, where Aiyuk routinely stayed for 30 minutes after every practice working on routes in the Rocklin heat. "It gets up to a good 110 degrees, and then he's out there until the daylight is gone with the quarterbacks after a four-hour day," Noonan said. "And demanding that the quarterbacks stay, you know, whether their arm was falling off or not."
College
Appeared in 25 games in two seasons (2018-19) at Arizona State and registered 98 recepts. for 1,666 yds. and 11 TDs. Also recorded 28 KORs for 760 yds. (27.1 avg.) and 25 PRs for 293 yds. (11.7 avg.) and 1 TD. As a senior in 2019, earned Third-Team All-America honors. He appeared in 12 games and recorded 65 recepts. for 1,192 yds. and 8 TDs. Also added 14 KORs for 446 yds. (31.9 avg.) and 14 PRs for 226 yds. (16.1 avg.) and 1 TD. Played in all 13 games as a junior in 2018 after transferring to Arizona State, recording 33 recepts. for 474 yds. and 3 TDs. Added 14 KORs for 314 yds. (22.4 avg.) and 11 PRs for 67 yds. (6.1 avg.). Played two seasons (2016-17) at Sierra (Rocklin, CA) College where he appeared in 20 games and recorded 89 recepts., 1,533 rec. yds. and 19 TDs. Appeared in 10 games as a sophomore in 2017, registering 60 recepts. for 960 yds. and 14 TDs. As a freshman in 2016, recorded 29 recepts. for 573 yds. and 5 TDs in 10 games.
Awards & Highlights
2020: Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week (Week 3)
2023: NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 1), AP Second-Team All Pro
Career Highlights
With 26 rec. yds. vs. LAR (11/15/21), became the 5th-fastest player in franchise history (21 games) to reach 1,000 career rec. yds.
With 10 recepts.vs.Was.(12/13/20),tied the franchise's rookies in- gle-game record for most recepts. [WR Jerry Rice – 10 recepts. vs. LAR (12/9/85); RB Earl Cooper – 10 recepts. at NO (9/7/80)].
Aiyuk is the first 49ers WR to score 1-or-more rec. TDs in 4 consecutive games since WR Terrell Owens in 2001 [2 rec. TDs vs. Det. (11/4/01); 2 rec. TDs vs. NO (11/11/01); 1 rec. TD at Car. (11/18/01); 1 rec. TD at Ind. (11/25/01); 1 rec. TD vs. Buf. (12/2/01)].
With 1,015 rec. yds. in 2022 and 1,342 rec. yds. in 2023, Aiyuk be- came the 4th WR and 5th player in franchise history to register back-to-back seasons with 1,000-or-more rec. yds (WR Jerry Rice – 1986-96; WR Terrell Owens – 2000-03; WR Anquan Boldin – 2013- 14; TE George Kittle – 2018-19).
Aiyuk was the first 49ers WR to accomplish the feat since WR Anquan Boldin in the 2013-14 seasons (1,179 rec. yds. in 2013 & 1,062 rec. yds. in 2014) and the first 49ers player to do so since TE George Kittle in the 2018-19 seasons (1,377 rec. yds. in 2018 & 1,053 rec. yds. in 2019).
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