The San Francisco 49ers selected Kaelon Black in the third round with the 90th overall pick. He was 179th on Dane Brugler’s board. Black was 197th on the consensus big board. He was 187th on PFF’s big board.
The 49ers reaching for a running back in the 3rd round? We’ve seen this movie before. Black had six targets last season at Indiana. He did not play on third downs for the national champion Hoosiers. Black is a sixth-year senior.
Black suffered a serious knee injury in 2021. His frame suggests he is a bowling ball style that runs low with good contact balance. He split time with Roman Hemby, but was mostly the backup due to not playing on passing downs.
Black had 11 rushes of 15+ yards last season, which is good for 41.6 percent. The 49ers must feel like that is not scheme-related, and Black can bring some big-play ability to their rushing attack that struggled a season ago.
This is also the same team that drafted Jordan James last year. Perhaps the team plans on using multiple running backs this year, or has a plan to move on from Isaac Guerendo.
Black, despite not being targeted much, was supposedly excellent in pass protection. So, perhaps this is his role:
Black was seventh in EPA per rush and positive play rate among backs in this class last year. Also averaged 3.4 yards after contact per attempt.
Black was also on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List last summer:
I haven’t watched Black, but knowing he’s on this list is encouraging.
