Christian McCaffrey is the latest San Francisco 49ers veteran to sing the praises of rookie running back Kaelon Black, joining George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk in touting the third-round pick early in training camp.
Speaking with reporters this week in Santa Clara, McCaffrey didn’t hold back when asked about Black, who has taken on a bigger workload behind the star running back after Jordan James fractured a rib in Tuesday’s practice.
“He’s stacked, man. You can definitely see it. He’s… you can tell he’s played at a high level of football,” McCaffrey said. “He’s played mature football. He’s, again, he’s made… I can’t say enough good. He’s exactly what you would want a rookie to come in and be like. And again, I think our whole running back room is great, and he complements it so well in the way he runs. I think when you look at him, his rookie year, and then you go look at me, my rookie year, they look very different in age.”
Black, 24, arrives with an unusually long college resume for a rookie, having played six seasons split between James Madison and Indiana. He rushed for 2,261 career yards and won a national championship with the Hoosiers in January before San Francisco took him with the No. 90 overall pick.
James was viewed as the early favorite to be McCaffrey’s primary backup, but with James out and Isaac Guerendo (torn pectoral) opening camp on the active/PUP list, Black has taken the bulk of the second-team reps.
Kittle and Juszczyk both praised Black’s game and demeanor earlier in the offseason, and Black himself has made clear he’s out to rewrite the narrative around the 49ers’ recent history of drafting running backs. McCaffrey’s endorsement adds another prominent voice to that chorus, and it comes at a moment when the 49ers’ backfield depth is being tested in real time.
With training camp still in its early stages, Black’s next chance to build on the buzz comes as San Francisco ramps up toward preseason play.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Christian McCaffrey raves about 49ers rookie
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
