The Los Angeles Chargers seem to have one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NFL draft on their hands in running back Kimani Vidal. While he didn’t come off the board until the sixth round, the Troy product should wind up playing a key role for the Bolts as a rookie.

Vidal will be opening his career as Los Angeles’ No. 3 back, but there will be plenty of opportunity for him to rapidly ascend the depth chart. While the Chargers signed a pair of Baltimore Ravens cast-offs in J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards to handle the bulk of the backfield work, both veterans have their flaws and could be usurped by the Day 3 pick.

Dobbins has simply been unable to stay healthy during his NFL career. He’s coming off an Achilles tear that kept him out all but the 2023 opener and has participated in a mere nine games since the 2021 campaign kicked off. Edwards has adequately filled in for Dobbins in the past—including amassing a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns last year—but is coming off his least efficient season and turned 29 back in April.

Given the limitations and advancing age of the backs ahead of him, Vidal should be ready to answer the call if either suffers an injury or a slip in skill. Vidal has all the tools to thrive at the next level and showed an immense amount of potential before entering the NFL, racking up over 4,000 yards and punching in 33 touchdowns during his tenure with the Trojans.

While Vidal isn’t the biggest back at 5’8″, 213 pounds, he showed he can handle the rigors of a heavy workload by rushing 781 times—more than any other back in the 2024 class—over his four collegiate seasons. He’s also a quality pass-catcher, picking up 700 yards on 92 receptions in that same span.

L.A.’s scheme should heavily feature the run under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. During his previous NFL tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh’s offenses ranked No. 30 in passing yards and No. 2 in rushing yards from 2011 to 2014.

With such a massive emphasis on the ground game, there should be enough touches for a third-string Vidal to still get in the mix each week. He has immense potential to break out as a star if he eventually becomes the Chargers’ No. 1 or even No. 2 back.