49ers training camp 2021: 4 rookies to watch the most
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers Running Back Trey Sermon
San Francisco mostly held out starting running back Raheem Mostert from OTA workouts, which was great news for rookie running back Trey Sermon, the first of two selections made by the 49ers in Round 3 of the draft.
Sermon made a name for himself in big games at Ohio State. And while he might not possess the blazing-fast speed Mostert has, Sermon’s fit in Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone blocking system was on full display during initial practices.
And Sermon was getting plenty of first-team reps, too.
The Niners’ loss of No. 2 running back Jeff Wilson Jr. to a meniscus tear opens up the door for Sermon to have an increased workload his rookie year, especially to begin with. While Shanahan has long since let his running backs determine their own roles heading into the regular season, there’s a good chance Sermon winds up being the starter for San Francisco right out of the gate, softening opponents’ defenses before the 49ers feature Mostert as more of a home-run threat later in games.
If Sermon continues with his upward trajectory already displayed during OTAs, now subject to contact and tackling in camp, it’s possible he winds up being the most impactful skill player of the Niners’ rookie class.