When the 49ers made the decision to select running back Trey Sermon in the third round and running back Elijah Mitchell in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, it felt a bit strange at the time given the fact they already had veterans Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert, and Wayne Gallman as part of their running back room. But with news surfacing Tuesday that Wilson could be sidelined for as long as six months due to a torn meniscus, Sermon and Mitchell now carry an added importance for the 2021 season.
Fortunately, the reviews for Sermon and Mitchell have been positive to this point. Mitchell was singled out earlier this month by beat reporter Matt Maiocco as a player who stood out during rookie minicamp, and on Tuesday, tight end George Kittle offered glowing reviews of both running backs.
Sermon in particular has made an impression on Kittle, starting with what Kittle saw from him last season at Ohio State. Sermon had a breakthrough performance with a school-record 331 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the 2020 Big Ten Football Championship Game against Northwestern, then followed it up with 193 rushing yards, 61 receiving yards, and one touchdown in a playoff win over Clemson.
"I'm a huge fan of Trey, just watching him in the playoffs and the Big Ten Championship game," Kittle told reporters Tuesday. "He's such an aggressive runner. He's a big body. He just likes to run through people, but he still has a finesse to his game, which is awesome to see. He's a fast guy that runs downhill, and I love that in this offense."
Mitchell wasn't as widely publicized in college as Sermon, having split carries at the University of Louisiana. He finished his senior season with 878 yards and eight touchdowns on 141 carries. But he seems to be showing well in Santa Clara so far, which is good news given the injury situation.
"Elijah's been great. Just seeing the routes and the reps that he's gotten running the rock, he looks really good too," Kittle said.
The 49ers have had their share of injury issues at running back in recent years, which is one reason head coach Kyle Shanahan cited earlier this month as a justification for drafting two of them. It's unfortunate that those injury issues will continue into the start of the 2021 season, but there remains a number of talented candidates to choose from, thanks in large part to the presence of Sermon and Mitchell.
"I'm excited about our running back room," Kittle said. "That's a crowded room too. When it's crowded, it breeds competition. That's what it's all about."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers Notebook: Kaelon Black shines; Brock Purdy pays up; No setbacks for George Kittle; Avoiding a trap game vs. Dolphins
Rookie running back Kaelon Black showed he is ready to take on whatever role the San Francisco 49ers ask of him. Black finished with 14 carries for 65 yards in Week 1's win over the Los Angeles Rams, four more carries than starter Christian McCaffrey. Black was added to... -
49ers QB Brock Purdy proving himself to be far more than a game manager
Many accuse San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy of being a game manager. Just like the poster child of game managers, Trent Dilfer. Trent Dilfer had a 55.5% career completion percentage. Trent Dilfer threw for 113 career touchdown passes and threw 129... -
49ers use first-round pick on tight end in 2027 NFL mock draft
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle played 30 snaps last week against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. The All-Pro recorded two receptions for 12 yards on five targets in his return from an Achilles injury suffered in January. With just one week of NFL... -
49ers named trade fit for Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. by ESPN insider
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes the situation between the Pittsburgh Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has reached a tipping point, potentially opening the door for a trade involving the San Francisco 49ers. Fowler believes a Porter trade is realistic, and the cornerback...