[h1] Source: Big-bodied RB Kenneth Dixon visited 49ers[/h1]
Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon, who ranks second in NCAA history in total touchdowns, has had a pre-draft visit with the 49ers, a source said.
Dixon, 5-foot-10 and 222 pounds, is expected to be a mid-round pick after he collected 5,452 total yards and 87 touchdowns in his four-year career. In 2012, Dixon had 27 rushing touchowns, a total which led the nation and set an NCAA record for freshmen.
Dixon had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons, headlined by a 1,299-yard campaign in 2014. He was also an adept pass-catcher who had 87 receptions for 969 yards and 15 scores. His 72 rushing touchdowns rank fourth in NCAA history.
Dixon gained seven pounds between the combine and his pro day on March 22.
"It was a hard process. You have to expand your stomach a little bit and learn how to eat a lot more,"
Dixon said. "I want to be in the NFL a long time so me being at 220 will help me out a lot."
During his pre-draft meeting with the media today, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke noted head coach Chip Kelly has a run-first philosophy and had big-bodied backs such as Jonathan Stewart (5-10, 235) and LeGarrette Blount (6-0, 250) during his tenure at Oregon. With the Eagles, Kelly signed free-agent running backs DeMarco Murray (6-0, 217) and Ryan Matthews (6-0, 220) last year.
“He wants to run the football,” Baalke said. “He wants to play a physical style of offense that then opens up the passing game. Our philosophies on personnel match up very well.”
The 49ers’ six-man running back corps doesn’t include a player with more than 900 career rushing yards. The group is headlined by Carlos Hyde, a 2014 second-round pick who has missed 11 games due to injury in his first two seasons.
The 49ers have selected a running back in each of the past seven drafts.
The NFL Network first reported Dixon’s visit with the 49ers.