San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Trey Sermon is likely to be the first running back off the bench whenever Raheem Mostert comes off the field. He is expected to complement a strong running back group that could include Wayne Gallman, Elijah Mitchell, JaMycal Hasty, and potentially later in the season, Jeff Wilson Jr.
Rotating between running backs should keep the group fresh and, more important, healthy. That's why no single player is expected to carry the team. However, Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus lists Sermon among his dark-horse candidates to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Of course, something would need to knock Mostert out of the lineup for Sermon to earn more snaps.
"Sermon would likely need to be the clear RB1 in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense to win the OROY," wrote Treash. "As of now, that's speedster Raheem Mostert's job, but he has had durability issues in the past. If Mostert endures another injury-riddled season, Sermon would be the next in line to receive the bulk of the carries. He may not have Mostert's speed, but he possesses the vision, balance and short-area burst to be a quality performer in this zone offense."
Mostert missed eight games last season due to injuries. Although, the running back insists he is healthy heading into his seventh NFL season.
"I won't allow you to put me into your 'hole' of being old, washed up, and injured," Mostert recently declared via Twitter. "I'm just getting started!!"
That came after the running back voiced his irritation that the media was making a bigger deal than needed of him wearing a knee brace during practices. However, it remains unclear to whom specifically his frustration was directed or what report prompted the comments.
Should Sermon receive the bulk of the workload in 2021, Treash can envision a big year for the rookie running back. Sermon averaged 7.5 yards per carry while rushing for 870 yards and four touchdowns during his senior year with Ohio State.
"Sermon broke 0.32 tackles per attempt in his four-year college career with Oklahoma and Ohio State, which tied for fifth in the FBS over that span," Treash continued. "While we would not advocate for a running back to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year over a far more valuable position — such as quarterback or wide receiver — Sermon is capable of putting up numbers in this favorable system if he gets a good share of the workload."