An undrafted runner courts 49ers — again
After JaMycal Hasty used a stutterstep juke Sunday to lose linebacker Demetrius FlanniganFowles, caught a short pass and jitterbugged upfield, he was greeted by waytogo hand slaps from tight end George Kittle and running back Jerick McKinnon.
OK, so it was part of a oneonone drill in a nonpadded practice against a player who probably won’t make the 53man roster.
Still, it was also part of a headturning start to training camp for Hasty, a 5foot8, 205pound undrafted rookie running back with a firehydrant build who has flashed quickness and passcatching ability in the first two practices.
The 49ers gave Hasty $90,000 guaranteed to sign, which was the thirdhighest salary in their nineman undraftedrookie class.
“He’s been really impressive,” McKinnon said. “In the oneonones, he made a spin move the other day that was really fluid. … I think a lot of the guys got excited about that. I definitely think he’s going to be one of those guys that’s going to be exciting throughout camp.”
Hasty, who was not a fulltime starter at Baylor, looks the part of an underdog: He was the third shortest among the 30 running backs at the NFL combine.
However, he said in a phone interview after Sunday’s practice that he’s felt comfortable in the
opening stages of his first NFL training camp. And if he doesn’t accomplish the tall task before him — making the 53man roster — it won’t be because of his dimensions.
“I don’t really think about stuff like that,” Hasty said. “Once I get on the field, I just play. Size doesn’t matter to me. My size or anybody else’s.”
Those familiar with the 49ers’ recent history, and the 24year NFL history of running backs coach Bobby Turner, 71, might be thinking this: It’s happening again.
The 49ers have been led in rushing the past two seasons by undrafted free agents, Raheem Mostert (2019) and Matt Breida (2018). Last year, Jeff Wilson, who also was undrafted, ranked third on the team with four rushing scores and had a gamewinning touchdown catch against the Cardinals.
Those are the latest unheralded backs to excel under the tutelage of Turner, who has coached three 1,000yard rushers who were sixthround picks (Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson and Alfred Morris).
Of course, 2020 is not supposed to be the season for undrafted rookies to make NFL rosters. There were no offseason practices and there won’t be preseason games. And head coach Kyle Shanahan has noted it’s difficult to evaluate running backs without game conditions, which showcase their vision and ability to break tackles.
However, it’s not hard to see a path to a 53man roster spot for Hasty or Salvon Ahmed, an undrafted rookie from Washington. Shanahan prefers to keep four running backs on the roster and Mostert, Coleman and McKinnon are the locks.
Hasty needs to unseat Wilson, who played 60 offensive snaps last year. The 49ers might be interested in having Hasty as insurance for McKinnon, their presumptive thirddown back who hasn’t played since 2017 because of knee issues.
In the NFL, No. 4 running backs need to be versatile. And Hasty has a variety of skills. At Baylor, he had 1,998 rushing yards (5.2 yards a carry), ranked second in program history in receptions by a running back (79), returned 16 kickoffs and played on the kickoffcoverage unit.
He has been playing on all four specialteams units this summer.
“I pride myself on being versatile,” Hasty said. “That allows me to fulfill any role that a team asks of me. Scatback. Thirddown back. Everydown back. I believe I can do it all.”
The 49ers don’t need Hasty to do it all. But they could use yet another undrafted rookie running back to beat the odds and contribute.
If Hasty can do that, particularly given the challenges in 2020, that would be doing something special.