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San Francisco 49ers: Reevaluating the 2011 NFL Draft, Five Years Later

By Bryan Knowles

December 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi
December 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi /
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September 3, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Dylan Thompson (13, left) hands the football off to running back Kendall Hunter (32) during the first quarter in a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
September 3, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Dylan Thompson (13, left) hands the football off to running back Kendall Hunter (32) during the first quarter in a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 4, Pick No. 115: Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State

Running back wasn’t really a need for the 2011 49ers; they had Frank Gore in his prime. They could have used an upgrade over Boobie Dixon as their backup though, so they went out and grabbed Kendall Hunter out of Oklahoma State on the third day of the draft, using a pick they had picked up the previous year when they had traded down to take NaVorro Bowman.

Hunter was very productive in college; a first-team All-American, Hunter totaled 4,181 yards in his college career. He was considered a solid NFL contributor, with the ability to produce right out of the gates; a little small to be an every-down back, but a useful part of a platoon without question.

Whenever he was on the field in a 49ers uniform, he showed signs and sparks of the same kind of production we saw in college.

The problem, of course, was that Hunter could rarely stay on the field; Hunter only topped 100 carries in his rookie season, dealing with Achilles and ACL injuries for most of his career. Still, whenever he was on the field, he was a very solid change-of-pace from Frank Gore, and it’s just sad that his injuries really prevented him from playing a bigger role as Gore began to slow down.

When it came to fourth-round running backs in 2011, perhaps Bilal Powel would have been a better choice; he has more rushing yards and has been a nice compliment in New York for his entire career.

Players like Chris Hariston or Julius Thomas have also had larger NFL impacts than Hunter has.  For a fourth-round pick, though, Hunter was very good when he was on the field. His injuries bump him down a grade or two, but it’s still a very solid pick for the middle of the draft.

Grade: C+

Next: Daniel Kilgore