Raheem Mostert has no shortage of confidence as the running back enters his seventh NFL season and fifth with the San Francisco 49ers. He was seen as a special-teams ace for most of his pro career, and rightfully so because he was outstanding within that group. Mostert proved last season that he could be so much more, though.
Mostert entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles and spent time with five other teams before landing with the 49ers late in the 2016 season. He ended up on injured reserve in 2017 (MCL) and 2018 (forearm).
Mostert had a career year after finally getting an opportunity to take on a more significant workload. He rushed for a career-high 772 yards and eight touchdowns on 137 carries and had 952 all-purpose yards with 10 total trips into the end zone. And he did so while splitting carries with Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida.
It was his 220-rushing-yard and four-rushing-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game that really made the media and fans across the league take notice. In the 49ers' biggest moment of the season, the former Purdue star shined.
But don't call Mostert a scheme running back. He believes he is so much more, and while replying to some college highlights posted by the Big Ten Network, shared that he can find success in any offense.
#TBT is the perfect time to enjoy Raheem Mostert's wheels.@RMos_8Ball | @BoilerFootball pic.twitter.com/pDRSzxFlgA
— Purdue On BTN (@PurdueOnBTN) May 28, 2020
If people really watched film they would know that I'm not just a scheme back. You can put me in any offense and I'll strive. Check the tapes. Just need the opp! #TrueTBT https://t.co/RB4FwpRvY2
— Raheem Mostert (@RMos_8Ball) May 28, 2020
Mostert is preparing for an even larger workload during the upcoming season and hopes to get somewhere around 200 carries. He is even using this abnormal offseason, where players are staying home due to continued concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, to bulk up.
"Right now, I'm just building myself up," Mostert explained last week. "I'm actually gaining some more muscle, which is kind of bizarre just because I haven't really been able to think about gaining muscle because I've already had muscle like that.
"Just trying to incorporate those things in my daily workouts, so that way, I'm able to take those hits and be one of those guys getting 200 carries. I've got to get prepared for that, and the only way that I know how is to get bulky and stronger."