49ers training camp: 5 early risers impressing the most
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers Running Back Trey Sermon
Admittedly, I wasn’t overly thrilled with San Francisco using a third-round pick on running back Trey Sermon, especially given the team’s needs elsewhere on the roster.
Happy to be wrong, though. Sermon is proving to be a force already, and the 49ers limiting the starting running back, Raheem Mostert, has opened up the door for Sermon to see plenty of time with the starters during training camp.
It’s a good thing, too, as Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn pointed out:
"[Sermon is] currently is the No. 2 running back on the depth chart behind Raheem Mostert, meaning Sermon gets more reps with the starters than all the other rookies combined. And Sermon clearly belongs with the starters. Today he had two long runs against the first-team defense."
Even if Kyle Shanahan leaves Mostert in as the Niners’ primary running back this season, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for Sermon to make a difference. Shanahan’s offense is simply built that way, and it’s been a running back-by-committee approach anyway the past few years.
What’s more important, however, is Mostert will be a free agent in 2022, and it doesn’t appear likely San Francisco will retain him a year from now with Sermon on such a rapid ascent.
Look for Sermon to be a key offensive weapon his rookie year.