Trey SermonRB | 49ers

Niners rookie RB Trey Sermon signs his contractJuly 21, 2021 | 03:10 PM

49ers signed third-round RB Trey Sermon to a four-year contract. Analysis: After signing as a four-star recruit, Sermon (6'0/215) played three seasons at Oklahoma as an efficient part-time rusher (6.1 YPC on 339 totes), but an LCL sprain and a depth chart shake-up sent him transferring to Ohio State as a senior. By the end of last season, Sermon looked like one of the top rushers of the class, featuring a quality jump cut and plus contact balance for a player of his stature. He solidified himself as a Day 2 talent after 29-331-2 and 31-193-1 rushing lines against Northwestern and Clemson in must-win contests, but those were his best games by far. He exited college with just three 20-plus carry games and 48 receptions across 45 career contests. Sermon's tape, 73rd percentile Adjusted SPARQ athleticism (4.59 forty with plus agility scores), and yards after contact numbers suggest there's a ceiling to chase in an inside zone or power rushing scheme, but he is a wild card prospect on the Melvin Gordon to Jay Ajayi spectrum overall. He joins a backfield that already includes Raheem Mostert and Wayne Gallman, but Sermon is expected to push for a prominent early-season role in an offense that wants to run the ball 500-plus times.