49ers: 7-round mock for 2018 NFL Draft, version 2.0

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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 24: Running back Akrum Wadley #25 of the Iowa Hawkeyes scores against defensive back Lamar Jackson #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

Akrum Wadley. 187. player. 42. . Running Back. Iowa

Not getting Rashaad Penny, and assuming Carlos Hyde departs via free agency, the 49ers are still going to look for a promising running back. And knowing Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner, they’ll have no problems waiting until the later rounds.

And they won’t have issue targeting an Iowa player either. After all, last year’s NFL Draft saw Shanahan and John Lynch grab two former Hawkeyes, quarterback C.J. Beathard and tight end George Kittle.

The next Iowa contributor? Running back Akrum Wadley.

Akrum Wadley Rushing & Receiving Table
		Rushing	Receiving	Scrimmage
Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Plays	Yds	Avg	TD
*2014	Iowa	Big Ten	SO	RB	5	33	186	5.6	1	1	-1	-1.0	0	34	185	5.4	1
*2015	Iowa	Big Ten	SO	RB	8	83	496	6.0	7	6	94	15.7	1	89	590	6.6	8
*2016	Iowa	Big Ten	JR	RB	13	168	1081	6.4	10	36	315	8.8	3	204	1396	6.8	13
*2017	Iowa	Big Ten	SR	RB	13	252	1109	4.4	10	28	353	12.6	3	280	1462	5.2	13
Career	Iowa					536	2872	5.4	28	71	761	10.7	7	607	3633	6.0	35

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 2/16/2018.

Wadley was a workhorse for Iowa the last two seasons. More importantly, he has the pass-catching abilities Shanahan will covet.

And as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein pointed out, Wadley’s quick movement and agility appear to be perfect factors in a read-and-cut zone-style blocking scheme:

"Feet are light and electric. Has the talent to elude sudden penetration into the backfield. Move-stacker. Improv ability in open field is star quality with tight-quarters footwork of a European soccer star. Often finds yardage for himself with sudden jump-cuts, spin moves, and a variety of head and shoulder fakes that leave tacklers on the turf. Can get to top speed quickly after changing directions."

Whatever happens with Hyde, Wadley would be a nice complementary piece to pair with second-year pro Matt Breida and, possibly, Joe Williams in 2018.

San Francisco 49ers: 7-round mock for 2018 NFL Draft, version 2.0

By Peter Panacy | Feb 17, 2018