49ers Draft Scouting: Houston RB Makhi Hughes

Houston running back Makhi Hughes is quietly reinvigorating his career in 2026. His workhorse frame, contact balance, and one-cut ability make him an intriguing late-round 2027 NFL Draft target for the San Francisco 49ers.

Hughes began his career at Tulane, where he dominated the American Conference with 2,776 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns in two seasons. This performance earned him Freshman All-American honors in 2024 and two All-AAC First Team appearances.

After this, he transferred to Oregon seeking to establish himself as a premier running back nationally; however, things didn’t go as planned. Hughes was buried in the Ducks’ depth chart, only seeing 18 snaps in four weeks. As a result, he decided to redshirt for the remainder of the year, preserving eligibility. 

Now, Hughes is reviving his career with a productive season at Houston, rushing for 464 yards and three touchdowns, averaging an efficient 4.7 yards per carry through seven games. He’s played a key role in Cougar’s early-season success.

Hughes, the six-foot, 210-pound senior, has a well-built frame. This makes him a bell cow running back who can take 15+ carries per game. He thrives at running between the tackles, but he has enough juice to win around the edge. Hughes has amazing contact balance, helping him bounce off tackles. His legs are constantly churning, and he fights for every yard.

Hughes doesn't have breakaway speed, but he compensates with his one-cut ability. He has great vision, which lets him survey the field before accelerating through the open gap. If a defender blocks his path, then he can instantly cut and change directions. Because of this, he’s an efficient player who rarely gets tackled in the backfield.

Despite his breakout, questions still loom about Hughes’ performance at Oregon. Was it a coaching choice? Did they simply like other options better? The answers to these questions will define his draft stock. Still, his bounceback performance in 2026 is telling of his talent. 

Although the 49ers have Christian McCaffrey, it’s time they contemplate adding another running back. McCaffrey is 30 years old,  making it vital that they find his successor. Additionally, grabbing a workhorse back like Hughes would let the veteran be a change-of-pace back instead of an every-down bruiser, lengthening his career.

It’s still early, and Makhi Hughes doesn’t have to declare for the draft, but he’s a talented player that the 49ers could target. His workhorse potential, contact balance, and one-cut ability make him an intriguing fit in Kyle Shanahan’s system.