3-star RB Rod Gainey Jr. commits to Charlotte

Tampa Bay Tech (Tampa, Fla.) three-star running back Rod Gainey Jr. committed to Charlotte on Monday night. He picked the 49ers over USF, Louisville, UCF and West Virginia.

1000% committed😎 @froelich51 pic.twitter.com/qIgBsESkwW

— Rod Gainey jr (@rodgainey2) June 26, 2023

Gainey Jr. is the No. 647 overall prospect and No. 52 running back in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He commits to Charlotte after taking an official visit this past weekend.

“What I love about Charlotte is the coaching staff is real, the city is great and it’s a place I would play as a freshman,” Gainey Jr. told On3. “They love running the ball!” 

Gainey Jr. is the sixth and highest-rated prospect to join the 49ers’ 2024 class. He joins a group that includes three-star prospects Milford Mill Academy (Baltimore, Md.) quarterback Deshawn Purdie and Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Fla.) safety Chris Lee Jr.

“I want to be the start of something new,” Gainey Jr. said.

Gainey Jr.’s commitment jumped Charlotte from No. 102 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings to No. 96. The 49ers now sit No. 8 among AAC teams for the 2024 cycle and fourth by average rating per commit.

The 6-foot-0, 175-pounder previously visited Florida, USF, Florida A&M, Miami and Georgia Tech.

Gainey Jr. currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $28K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.