Last Wednesday, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers are among the numerous teams that are showing interest in Toledo running back Kareem Hunt. Updating that story, Michael Rothstein of ESPN reports that the 49ers have a meeting scheduled for this week with the running back.
Rothstein wrote the following:
"Toledo RB Kareem Hunt has a visit scheduled with San Francisco this week, according to a source. Hunt is the No. 9 RB in his class according to Scouts, Inc and the No. 125 player overall. He rushed for 1,475 yards last season with 10 touchdowns along with 41 receptions for 403 yards."
The numerous other teams that were also showing interest, according to the earlier report, are the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Bucs, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, and New Orleans Saints.
Hunt figures to be a mid-round selection and the San Francisco 49ers have drafted a running back in each of the past eight drafts. With running back Carlos Hyde's durability coming into question, it is entirely likely that the 49ers will do so again this year.
Hunt has rushed for over 1,000-yards two times during his college career with the Rockets. The first was in 2014 when he rushed for 1,631 yards and 16 touchdowns. The second was in 2016, as Rothstein mentioned. In 2016, he earned first-team All-MAC honors for the second time in his college career.
The 5-foot-10, 216-pound running back was suspended for the first two games of the 2015 season for violating team rules and then struggled with hamstring and ankle injuries that year. However, he still managed to get within 27 yards of another 1,000-yard season.
Lance Zierlein of NFL Media, who compares Hunt to Olandis Gary, had the following to say in his scouting report:
"Big back with plus vision and enough elusiveness to make the first defender miss. Feel for the rushing lane helps him choose the correct path between the tackles but lacks the burst to turn the 4-yard run into 14. Zone-scheme runner with serviceable hands out of the backfield. Adequate in most areas and has talent to become a backup that can step in and handle a bigger load if needed."
Measurables
Height: 5-10
Weight: 216 lbs.
Arm length: 31 3/8 inches
Hand length: 9 5/8 inches
NFL Scouting Combine
40-time: 4.62 seconds
Vertical: 36.5 inches
Broad jump: 119 inches
Bench press: 18 reps
College Statistics
| Year | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | TD |
| 2013 | 12 | 137 | 866 | 6.3 | 6 | 12 | 68 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 205 | 1,631 | 8.0 | 16 | 9 | 39 | 0 |
| 2015 | 9 | 178 | 973 | 5.5 | 12 | 11 | 45 | 0 |
| 2016 | 13 | 262 | 1,475 | 5.6 | 10 | 41 | 403 | 1 |
| Totals | 44 | 782 | 4,945 | 6.3 | 44 | 73 | 555 | 1 |
(h/t to Niners Wire)
