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Sports Illustrated lists 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin one of the most fit athletes in the NFL

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers poses for photo during warmups before the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers poses for photo during warmups before the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin has been listed among the NFL’s most fit athletes, according to a recent 2017 compilation from Sports Illustrated.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin might not be off to the hottest of starts in 2017, dropping some key passes in critical moments over the first two weeks.

But the 26-year-old speedster did receive an accolade touting his physical abilities recently.

Sports Illustrated compiled a list of the top-50 fittest athletes for 2017. Goodwin was ranked No. 26 among all, just ahead of Olympian weightlifter Kendrick Farris and fellow Olympian track-and-field star, Evan Jager.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (No. 22), Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (No. 18), New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 6) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (No. 5) were the only other NFL players listed ahead of Goodwin.

It’s not surprising Goodwin makes the cut. He was also a track-and-field star, after all.

Here’s what SI’s rankings had to say about Goodwin:

"Whether you know him as a speedy wide receiver in the NFL or as an Olympian long jumper, Goodwin is an athletic standout. Though he missed the Olympic team for Rio in 2016, the 26-year-old leaped to a personal-best long jump of 8.45 meters ahead of the Games and has now shifted his focus back to the gridiron, where he hopes to have a breakout season with the Niners."

Speed is clearly a major element behind Goodwin’s success at both the NFL and track-and-field levels.

At the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, Goodwin recorded a blazing 4.27 40-yard dash time — ranking first among all receivers and beating the No. 2 guy on the list, wide receiver Tavon Austin, by nearly a full second.

That’s pretty impressive, to say the least.

TORONTO, ON – JULY 22: Marquise Goodwin of the United States holds the American flag after winning the silver medal in the men’s long jump during Day 12 of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games on July 22, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 22: Marquise Goodwin of the United States holds the American flag after winning the silver medal in the men’s long jump during Day 12 of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games on July 22, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Goodwin, of course, ended up being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in Round 3 that year and eventually found his way to the Niners, via free agency, this offseason.

Before all that, Goodwin ended up making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in the long jump and ended up finishing 10th at the summer games in London, England.

Dual-sport athletes are often regarded as being among the most fit, so it shouldn’t be a shock to see Goodwin ranked on this list.

Next: 49ers Week 2 stock report after loss to Seahawks

The only hope now is he can turn some of that physicality into some serous pass-catching ability.