"The 49ers used their first draft pick Saturday on running back Kendall Hunter, who twice ran for more than 1,500 yards in college. But any reports of Frank Gore's demise - or imminent departure - are greatly exaggerated.

"I think you always have to plan for the future, but we look at Frank as a 49er and as a guy that we would love to have here for his career," general manager Trent Baalke said after the draft. "This isn't a move to try to replace Frank by any stretch. He's a 49er. Those are the guys that we want to keep in the fold."

Hunter certainly has the potential to be a featured runner in an NFL offense.

The 5-foot-7, 200-pound Hunter ran for 1,548 yards and scored 16 touchdowns last season at Oklahoma State. And he runs very much like Gore - low to the ground, which enables him to squeeze through the smallest of openings.

The 49ers have said they would like more rest for Gore, who has been injured in each of the last four seasons. Hunter and last year's sixth-round pick, Anthony Dixon, figure to be part of a rotation at the position.

Last year's second-leading rusher, Brian Westbrook, is a free agent and does not figure to return in 2011. Gore is entering the final year of his contract.

Some draft projections had Hunter being taken as high as the second round. He fell to the fourth round, and the 49ers took him with the 115th pick.

"I always have a chip on my shoulder ever since I started playing the game," Hunter said. "People doubted me - that I can't do this or that because of my size and stuff like that. … I use it as motivation."

Hunter is one of the few players the 49ers drafted over the last three days who figures to line up at the position he played in college.

First-round pick Aldon Smith, for example, is a defensive end who will convert to outside linebacker in the 49ers' scheme. Third-round pick Chris Culliver played more safety than cornerback, his likely position with the 49ers. That theme continued Saturday.

The 49ers' fifth-round selection, offensive lineman Daniel Kilgore, said he played tackle and guard at Appalachian State. The 49ers want to try him at center, where they could have a hole in 2011, but Kilgore hasn't played that position since high school."