With the 36th pick in the sixth round (211th overall), the San Francisco 49ers selected Florida RB Kelvin Taylor. He is the son of former Jacksonville Jaguars RB Fred Taylor.
In three years with Florida, Taylor had 2,108 rushing yards on 486 attempts (4.3 average), 23 rushing touchdowns, and 179 yards on 24 receptions. In 2015, he had 1,035 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. 17 of those receptions came in 2015 for 150 yards receiving.
Taylor is a former teammate with the 49ers' selection prior to him. He and QB Jeff Driskel played together at Florida before Driskel left for Louisiana Tech. He was also a teammate of current 49ers OT Trent Brown.
"I feel like I'm an every down back, and I want to get out there in camp and start making plays," said Taylor while speaking to reporters following his selection. The other running backs on the 49ers roster are Carlos Hyde, Shaun Draughn, Mike Davis, Kendall Gaskins, DuJuan Harris, and Jarryd Hayne.
NFL.com projected that Taylor would be selected in rounds 5 or 6 of the NFL Draft.
Analysis
Lance Zierlein of NFL Media, who compares Taylor to Bobby Rainey, had the following to say in his scouting report:
Quicker-than-fast running back with the vision and footwork to be a creator, but a potential lack of power and commitment between the tackles to be an every down back. Taylor's work ethic and toughness should make fans of running back coaches, but his ceiling may be as a change of pace runner in a committee.
DraftInsider.net had the following to say about Taylor in their scouting report:
Taylor is well-rounded as a ball handler and projects well as a situational runner/third-down back at the next level.
Measurables
Height: 5-10
Weight: 207 lbs.
Arm length: 29 1/4 inches
Hand length: 8 1/4 inches
NFL Scouting Combine
40-time: 4.60 seconds
Vertical: 32 inches
Broad jump: 113 inches
Bench press: 15 reps
Pro Day
40-yard dash: 4.6 seconds
20-yard short shuttle: 4.2 seconds
3-cone: 7.23 seconds
Bench: 17 reps of 225 pounds
