2021 Senior Bowl: 5 NFL Draft prospects SF 49ers must watch

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North Carolina Tar Heels running back Michael Carter (8) Mandatory Credit: Adam Richins-USA TODAY Sports /

SF 49ers Prospect No. 3: Running Back Michael Carter

Michael Carter. 3. player. 838. . Running Back. Tar Heels

San Francisco doesn’t necessarily need a running back in this year’s NFL Draft. And Kyle Shanahan has a long history of investing late-round picks or going after undrafted free agents, then developing them anyway.

But all three of the runners projected to be on the SF 49ers roster in 2021 — Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and JaMycal Hasty — suffered serious injuries last season. And it might not be a bad idea to find a younger, healthier version who’d fit the offense.

While there are some top names to watch at the Senior Bowl, such as Alabama’s Najee Harris, Shanahan and the Niners won’t use a first- or perhaps even a second-round pick on a running back.

If Round 3 is an option, though, North Carolina running back Michael Carter would be an excellent target.

Michael Carter Rushing & Receiving Table
		Rushing	Receiving	Scrimmage
Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Plays	Yds	Avg	TD
2017	North Carolina	ACC	FR	RB	11	97	559	5.8	8	11	100	9.1	1	108	659	6.1	9
2018	North Carolina	ACC	SO	RB	9	84	597	7.1	2	25	135	5.4	1	109	732	6.7	3
*2019	North Carolina	ACC	JR	RB	13	177	1003	5.7	3	21	154	7.3	2	198	1157	5.8	5
*2020	North Carolina	ACC	SR	RB	11	156	1245	8.0	9	25	267	10.7	2	181	1512	8.4	11
Career	North Carolina					514	3404	6.6	22	82	656	8.0	6	596	4060	6.8	28

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 1/26/2021.

Carter turned things up his last two seasons with the Tar Heels, and one can see with his pass-catching abilities how he can be a positive presence in Shanahan’s offense.

Additionally, Carter’s field vision and one-cut movement skills would be a fun watch in a zone-style offense.