Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, Cadillac Williams, J.J. Arrington and Eric Shelton were the running backs selected ahead of Frank Gore in the 2005 NFL draft.

Around the NFC West: June 6, 2013

Gore, the San Francisco 49ers' career rushing leader, has kept those players' names in mind as motivation over the years.

This is pretty typical thinking in the NFL.

Tom Brady famously kept in mind the six quarterbacks selected ahead of him in the 2000 draft, and what it felt like to be selected 199th overall. He teared up when recalling his draft-day experience for a documentary more than a decade later.

"Of all the quarterbacks selected before Brady in the 2000 draft, none hurt Brady more than [Geno] Carmazzi" going to the 49ers because Brady had been a huge fan of Joe Montana and the team while growing up in California, Mike Reiss noted two years ago.

Gore has company among third-round choices in the NFC West.

Brandon Weedon was among the quarterbacks selected ahead of 2012 Seattle Seahawks third-rounder Russell Wilson. Rolando McClain and Sergio Kindle were among the linebackers selected ahead of 2010 49ers third-rounder NaVorro Bowman.

Back to Gore: He has 8,839 career rushing yards. Benson (6,017), Brown (5,171), Williams (4,038), Arrington (654) and Shelton (23) have combined for 15,903 yards.