A national champion running back whose physical style at Indiana convinced San Francisco to draft him well ahead of consensus projections.
Kaelon Black heads to San Francisco after a breakout final season at Indiana that culminated in a national title. The 49ers surprised many draft analysts by selecting him in the third round, with Kyle Shanahan citing him as the second-rated running back on their board.
Path to the league
Black played six college seasons split between James Madison and Indiana, capping his career with a standout year for the Hoosiers. The San Francisco 49ers selected him with the 90th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a selection that came earlier than most mock drafts projected.
Career highlights
Black totaled 2,261 rushing yards over his college career, with multiple 100-yard rushing games along the way. His aggressive, contact-finishing running style stood out to NFL scouts despite his relatively compact 5-foot-9 frame.
2025 season recap
In his final college season, Black rushed for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns on 186 carries, helping Indiana complete a 16-0 season and win the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Kaelon Black
- 49ers.com: Kaelon Black
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Running Back
- Group
- offense
- College
- Indiana
- Hometown
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
