Former Nebraska Football Running Back Ameer Abdullah Signs with San Francisco 49ers

The Alabama native burst onto the scene early in his collegiate career with Nebraska, contributing all four seasons in Lincoln from 2011-14, totaling 4,588 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns, 690 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns. He finished with over 7,000 all-purpose yards with 48 touchdowns scored rushing, receiving, and in kick and punt returns. He would have a career rushing average of 5.6 yards per carry, along with 9.5 yards per reception.

Abdullah stepped up in place of injured senior back Rex Burkhead at the start of the 2012 season to go for a 1,137-yard, eight-touchdown effort his sophomore season. In the following seasons, Abdullah would then push for Heisman campaigns in his junior and senior seasons, leading Nebraska's offense with a lethal ground attack of over 1,600 rushing yards in 2013 and 2014, scoring 28 rushing touchdowns over the two-year span.

Abdullah's collegiate efforts earned him the second round draft selection, as well as a four-year, $4.15 million contract to begin his NFL career. Abdullah was the fourth overall running back selected in 2015 and has outlasted his entire running back draft class entering his 11th season. As Arbitrary Analytics noted on X, Abdullah is second among all backs in the NFL since 2015 in games played, behind new teammate Kyle Juszcyk.

Abdullah was selected behind St. Louis' Todd Gurley (No. 10 overall), San Diego's Melvin Gordon (No. 15 overall), and Jacksonville's T.J. Yeldon (No. 36 overall). 13 other running backs were picked in the 2015 NFL draft, as no back has continued their career as long as the former Huskers. He now joins a running back room that includes Christian McCaffery, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor, and fifth-round rookie Jordan James.