Before the end of the draft running back Rico Dowdle should have an NFL home. He spent four years in the Gamecocks backfield and finished his career averaging 5.1 yards per carry for a total of 2,167 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He also factored into the passing game as he hauled in 490 receiving yards with three touchdown grabs.
Dowdle could be a lighting in a bottle pick for the defending NFC Champion 49ers. No team has proven better than San Francisco at turning seemingly no-name running backs into stars. Just ask Raheem Mostert, who ran for 220 yards in the teams’ NFC Championship Game victory.
With reserves Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman all injury-prone, Dowdle can compete for a backup role and potentially allow San Francisco to cut one of their veterans for cap space.
Projection: Seventh round, No. 217 overall (49ers)