Cowboys 49ers Football

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (31) runs against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

 Eakin Howard

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - A rookie running back from the University of Louisville had been waiting all year for Sunday night. 

San Francisco 49ers 4th-round draft pick Isaac Guerendo seized a primetime opportunity, scoring his first NFL touchdown and rushing for 85 yards on 14 carries in a 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Guerendo rushed for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns in one season with the Cardinals.

The Niners have been missing star running back Christian McCaffery, and then Sunday night in San Francisco, the next man up in Jordan Mason (shoulder) became the next Niner down. Much like his stellar redshirt senior campaign as a Cardinal, all the former Wisconsin transfer needed was another window to prove himself.

In his eighth career games, Guerendo gashed Dallas for 107 total yards on 17 touches and cashed in on a scoring opportunity. He had already shown his explosiveness with long runs and kick returns earlier this season. Against the Cowboys, he just needed a short-yardage shot to score. 

The former Cardinal ball-carrier caught more NFL eyes in the buildup to the 2024 NFL Draft. Guerendo ran the fastest 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, clocking in at 4.33 seconds. That kind of speed paired with his 6-0, 221-pound build has proven to be built for a versatile role in his early pro career.

Isaac Guerendo is making a name for himself as an NFL Draft prospect after a successful season at Louisville.

But he got a consistent chance to flash it first at Louisville, forming a dangerous backfield duo with Jawhar Jordan to help run the Cardinals to their first-ever ACC Championship Game in 2023. Guerendo scored 17 career touchdowns while averaging 6.0 yards per carry over his five-year collegiate career.

Isaac Guerendo

Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo celebrates after scoring a touchdown in a victory over Virginia at L&N Stadium.

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