Indiana football saw its fourth player taken in the NFL Draft on Friday when the San Francisco 49ers selected running back Kaelon Black with the 90th overall pick in the third round, reuniting him with quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who was selected in last year’s draft.
Here’s what to know about the newest 49er:
Kaelon Black – RB – 5’10”, 210 lbs
There are few running backs who run as hard or with as much strength as Kaelon Black, who emerged in Indiana’s backfield this past season after playing more of a depth role in 2024. He’s a true
Curt Cignetti guy, having been with Indiana’s head coach since 2020 when the two were at JMU.
Black was a member of the only backfield in America with two 1,000+ yard rushers in 2025, joining leading rusher Roman Hemby. He made the most of his attempts, finishing with 1,040 yards on 186 carries, good for 5.6 yards per carry, with a tead-leading 10 touchdowns.
When Black gets going and finds a hole, he becomes incredibly difficult to stop through contact and speed. There were several moments during the 2025 in which Black would carry multiple defenders multiple extra yards to get as much out of each run as he possibly could before calmly returning to the backfield, ready to go again. He brings that same strength as a pass blocker, an aspect of his game that improved throughout the 2025 season.
He didn’t see too many catches at Indiana, but did at JMU, hauling in 27 receptions for 254 yards and four touchdowns with the Dukes in 2023. Given the lack of receptions between he and Hemby in 2025 when each had previously logged productive seasons as receivers, it’s fair to chalk it up to more of a scheme design than a lack of ability.
On top of this, Black is a great locker room presence who sacrificed significant touches in 2024 after playing a prominent role for JMU in 2023 only to make the most of his opportunity in 2025. He’s a stellar addition to an organization that prides itself on its ability to run the football.
