Tyrion Davis-Price will be much better for 49ers than you think

49ers rookie running back Tyrion Davis-Price’s beefed-up physique and speed will lead him to become better than what most fans are anticipating.

The San Francisco 49ers made a rather unexpected decision by electing to take running back Tyrion Davis-Price from Louisiana State University with the 93rd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Many moving parts went into the decision to draft another running back in Round 3 after selecting Trey Sermon in last year’s draft in the same round.

But the main one is Davis-Price will be much better than you think.

Tyrion Davis-Price will be a power back for 49ers

It isn’t necessarily Davis-Price’s stats that jump out at you, which include just one year with over 1,000 yards rushing.

It’s what you see on film that does the trick.

At 6-foot-0 and hovering around 220 pounds, Davis-Price is a natural power back thanks to his beefed-up physique. Don’t let the beef fool you, though. He harbors speed and quickness that defenders often are not prepared for.

As head coach Kyle Shanahan has alluded to recently, the Niners running back room caught the injury bug last season, headlined by then-rookie Elijah Mitchell missing six games with various ailments.

So it begs the question: Why not contain a surplus of running backs when, quite frankly, they are one of the most disposable positions in the NFL?

The benefit of containing a talent like Davis-Price is that he possesses the body of a power back, but he also has excellent closing speed and above-average gap awareness. At LSU, he was a relentless machine, and on film, he showed to get better and better with each carry he got.

Davis-Price is a downhill running stud who went untouched on multiple rushing carries for touchdowns throughout his collegiate career. On film, he appears to possess the ability not to get tired either. In fact, he notably told a reporter, “I’m ready to go another game” after rushing for 287 yards, scoring three touchdowns, and breaking the LSU single-game rushing record.

Those specific numbers were the most allowed by a University of Florida defense ever, and Niner fans will surely appreciate his gritty rushing style.

Tyrion Davis-Price stats at LSU (2019-2022)

Yards: 1,744

Touchdowns: 15

Tyrion Davis-Price bottom line for 49ers

The bottom line is Davis-Price will be much better than you think for San Francisco.

Given the rushing style of play that Shanahan loves to implement, the rookie has the possibility of becoming a key member and even a steal from the 2022 draft. His unique size and speed are certainly something to be excited about as a 49ers fan, and it’s those same traits that will make him an unprecedented entity to scheme for as an opponent.

Read More: Breaking down 49ers’ selection of Tyrion Davis-Price in NFL Draft

As mentioned earlier regarding the Niners’ running back injury bug, while Mitchell had a breakout year his rookie season, he missed extended time due to injury, as did Sermon. Considering the two things previously mentioned, using another draft pick on an additional running back is justified.

Although they are one of the most disposable positions, they are just as important as anyone else on the gridiron.

As we inch closer to the start of the 2022 NFL season, time will only tell where Davis-Price will stand as far as his position on San Francisco’s depth chart. The 49ers running back room is deep, yes, but as noted with the running back injury bug of the 2021 season and the abilities of Davis-Price, it’s safe to say, if given the opportunities, the new rookie will make a bigger impact than many likely thought.