49ers struck gold with UDFA running back JaMycal Hasty
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers had a few notable moves after the 2020 NFL Draft, but landing undrafted running back JaMycal Hasty is an absolute steal for Kyle Shanahan.
The San Francisco 49ers‘ running back room will be a little different in 2020, particularly after general manager John Lynch moved Matt Breida via a trade to the Miami Dolphins on day three of the NFL Draft.
Breida was one prime example of how head coach Kyle Shanahan, running backs coach Bobby Turner and the Niners coaching staff evaluate hidden-gem talent at the position. After all, Breida was an undrafted free agent back in 2017 and eventually led San Francisco’s rushing attack in 2018.
In 2020, former Baylor running back JaMycal Hasty could be the under-radar player to watch during offseason workouts and training camp, much like Breida was his rookie year. And Hasty even made it on one of Niner Noise’s watch lists for day three.
The 5-foot-8, 205-pound Hasty was a multifaceted offensive weapon for the Bears the past few years, amassing 811 all-purpose yards and seven net touchdowns his senior season.
| Rushing | Receiving | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2015 | Baylor | Big 12 | FR | RB | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| *2016 | Baylor | Big 12 | FR | RB | 12 | 119 | 623 | 5.2 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 8.7 | 0 | 122 | 649 | 5.3 | 3 |
| 2017 | Baylor | Big 12 | SO | RB | 8 | 76 | 314 | 4.1 | 1 | 25 | 105 | 4.2 | 0 | 101 | 419 | 4.1 | 1 |
| *2018 | Baylor | Big 12 | JR | RB | 11 | 82 | 434 | 5.3 | 4 | 26 | 170 | 6.5 | 1 | 108 | 604 | 5.6 | 5 |
| *2019 | Baylor | Big 12 | SR | RB | 14 | 109 | 627 | 5.8 | 7 | 25 | 184 | 7.4 | 0 | 134 | 811 | 6.1 | 7 |
| Career | Baylor | 386 | 1998 | 5.2 | 15 | 79 | 485 | 6.1 | 1 | 465 | 2483 | 5.3 | 16 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/26/2020.
It’s no surprise Shanahan targeted targeted Hasty as an undrafted free agent right after the NFL Draft even though the Niners still have runners Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon in the mix for snaps this upcoming season.
But what stands out about Hasty is his quick-cut agility, which is one of the traits you can see in the video below:
Hasty’s pass protection is also something worth noting, which should help him earn some snaps on passing downs. Coupled with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, that dual-purpose aspect should provide him with more looks en route to making the back end of the 55-man roster this season.
And while his smallish stature could be seen as a negative, it does offer a lower center of gravity, making him a tougher tackle. Pro Football Focus pointed this out by writing:
"Hasty has prototypical scatback traits. He completely relies on making defenders miss, though, which won’t happen nearly as often in the NFL. Still, he’s a tough ask to bring down one-on-one in the open field."
It might have been a bit of a surprise Hasty wasn’t drafted, as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had a sixth-round grade assigned to him.
Granted, day-three picks can fluctuate all over the place. But Hasty’s upside makes him a unique commodity, and the 49ers were fortunate enough to lure him to Santa Clara once the NFL Draft was complete.
Next. 49ers' best, worst moves in the 2020 NFL Draft. dark
Hasty still has a long way to go to secure a roster spot, of course. When looking at the remaining UDFA players San Francisco selected, Hasty arguably has the best shot to make an impact right out of the gate.