Isaac Guerendo has unique X-factor that'll fit right into 49ers offense
By Peter Panacy
Despite starting only one game in college, Isaac Guerendo's intangibles were enough to convince the 49ers to draft him.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan got back to his modus operandi for selecting players in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Shanahan has always been enticed by speed, and that's one of the traits his newest drafted running back, Isaac Guerendo, has.
But it's not the only trait that makes Guerendo such an intriguing prospect.
Prior to the Niners grabbing him in Round 4 out of Louisville at No. 129 overall in the draft last April, Guerendo was a six-year collegiate player who redshirted his freshman 2018 campaign while playing at Wisconsin before transfering down south to play his final season with the Cardinals.
Year | School | Games | Rush attempts | Rush yards | Yards per carry | Receptions | Receiving yards | Total TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Wisconsin | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2019 | Wisconsin | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
2020 | Wisconsin | 2 | 11 | 36 | 3.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2021 | Wisconsin | 4 | 23 | 160 | 7.0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
2022 | Wisconsin | 12 | 64 | 385 | 6.0 | 17 | 115 | 6 |
2023 | Louisville | 14 | 132 | 810 | 6.1 | 22 | 234 | 11 |
Experience was another element to San Francisco's draft class in 2024. And while Guerendo didn't truly cut his teeth in college until 2022, it's safe to say he started making a serious dent as a dual-threat option with size and speed on his side.
The 6-foot-0, 221-pound tailback ran a 4.33 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine.
What's the 49ers' long-term plan for Isaac Guerendo?
The 49ers haven't had much luck drafting mid-round running backs during the Shanahan era. Failures include Joe Williams in 2017, Trey Sermon in 2021 and Tyrion Davis-Price in 2022.
Now, the Niners did have modest success with running back Elijah Mitchell, who was a late day-three pick in 2021 and set a rookie franchise rushing record that year with 963 yards. But he also has dealt with serious injuries since that point, potentially raising the need for San Francisco to find a more durable option to support its No. 1 rusher, All-Pro Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey is the bell cow. No questioning that. But, after leading the league with 2,023 net yards from scrimmage last season, it's safe to assume the 49ers would prefer to balance their ground attack a bit more entering 2024.
That's where Guerendo fits into the equation.
Sure, he'll have to prove more worthy and healthier than Mitchell while also knocking third-year pro Jordan Mason down the depth chart.
But, if his size and speed prove to be factors worth developing, it wouldn't be a shock to see Guerendo emerge as the complementary change-of-pace tailback to McCaffrey over the next few years.
Assuming the rookie doesn't follow the same trend as most of the other drafted running backs the Niners have selected but failed to develop.
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