New San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black is already making his case as a versatile offensive weapon after showcasing his receiving ability early during his college career.

At James Madison, Black flashed strong dual-threat potential with 44 receptions for 431 yards and six receiving touchdowns over two seasons. That production in the passing game plummeted during his time at Indiana, where he totaled just eight receptions for 42 yards and no touchdowns across two years.


Despite the reduced passing-game usage, Black remains confident he can contribute as a receiver at the next level. The 49ers selected him in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 90 overall pick, banking on his upside as a multi-dimensional running back—something that wasn't always on display in college.

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San Francisco opened rookie minicamp on Friday, and Black's first "welcome to the NFL" moment came when he located his locker—placed next to All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.

"They put my locker right next to Fred Warner, so I was just like, man, it's real," Black said on Friday. "So, I'm really here, and I'm just ready to ball.

If Black can consistently show his versatility throughout the offseason program, he could earn early trust from his 49ers coaches, proving himself capable of being a complementary piece behind star running back Christian McCaffrey, one of the league's premier dual-threat backs.

When asked about his reduced receiving production at Indiana compared to James Madison, Black attributed it to the scheme and personnel rather than a lack of ability.


"I would say it was more so like a scheme thing," Black said. "In terms of, we had a lot of receivers that could catch the ball—Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper, Charlie Becker, Jonathan Brady, E.J. Williams—all those guys catching the ball.

"Anytime [QB] Fernando [Mendoza] threw it to them, they was catching it. So, there wasn't really too much of a use for us in the pass game, but we could do it. The ability is there, we have the confidence to do it."

Following the selection, general manager John Lynch pointed out that Black's receiving skills stood out on film at James Madison. Head coach Kyle Shanahan added that his pass-catching ability flashed again at the Senior Bowl.

"I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to really showcase my skills [at the Senior Bowl], and showcase the things that people say that hasn't really been shown that the past two years," Black said. "Like I said, it's been there, and the opportunity to go to the Senior Bowl was a blessing."

Black will compete with young players like James Jordan and Isaac Guerendo to be the first back off the bench when the 49ers look to rest McCaffrey. For now, however, his focus remains on mastering the 49ers' system and earning trust within the offense.


"Honestly, we haven't even really gotten to talk to that (the RB2 role)," Black said. "It's more so about you go out there and work hard each and every day. You're just maximizing your skills and showcasing what you can do, so your teammates and coach can have trust in you."



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