April 16, 2000
Release: Upon Receipt

FURMAN¹S KEITH SELECTED BY SAN FRANCISCO
49ERS IN FOURTH ROUND OF NFL DRAFT

GREENVILLE -- Furman University senior All-American safety John Keith was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of National Football League Draft earlier today.

The 14th pick in the fourth round and 108th selection overall, Keith was the first Southern Conference player picked in this year¹s draft and the highest Furman draft selection since wide receiver Chas Fox was picked in fourth round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1986. Former Paladin and current Philadelphia Eagles tight end Luther Broughton was a fifth round selection of the Eagles in 1997.

³I¹m excited to be heading to San Francisco,² said Keith from his home in Newnan, Ga., Sunday afternoon. ³I¹ve done all I can do on the east coast, so now it¹s time to go to the west coast. Seriously, this is a big honor and something I¹ve worked hard for. I owe a big thank you to my coaches at Furman and a lot of people who helped me get to this point. Now, it¹s up to me to take advantage of it.²

³This is a big day for John and for Furman football, and we¹re very proud of him and what he has accomplished,² said Paladin head coach Bobby Johnson Sunday afternoon. ³He is a special player who meant a great deal to our program the last four years, and and he¹s put himself in this position through a lot of hard work and dedication.²

As a senior in 1999, 6-foot, 207-pound Keith garnered consensus Southern Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year and All-America honors after totaling a team leading 132 tackles and three interceptions while leading Furman to a 9-3 record, Southern Conference championship, and appearance in the NCAA I-AA playoffs. In his four-year career, Keith tallied 320 tackles, 11 interceptions, and 20 pass deflections. He returned one of his pickoff a school record 99 yards in Furman¹s 43-21 win over Chattanooga in 1997.

Keith is scheduled to take part in the 49ers first mini-came, scheduled for April 27-30.

Furman currently has two former players in the NFL ‹ Luther Broughton and linebacker Orlando Ruff of the San Diego Chargers.