The 49ers Garrison Hearst is running . . . FULL SPEED AHEAD

Garrison Hearst is outrunning his past disappointments.

The third player taken in the 1993 draft, Hearst was ditched by Arizona as a bust and didn’t get much of a chance in his only season in Cincinnati.

But with seemingly every carry for the San Francisco 49ers, Hearst becomes further and further removed from his early struggles. He’s generated a new perception, placing him among the league’s top backs.

“When he first came here, there were maybe some questions about his style, like, ‘He’s this kind of runner. He’s that kind of runner,’ ” offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick says.

“Well, he’s any kind of runner you want him to be. He can run any kind of play in America’s favorite playbook. He can run I-formation plays, sweeps, traps. He’s got attitude, toughness, speed, strength, smarts. There’s nothing he can’t do.”

In his second season with the 49ers, the 27-year-old Hearst has established himself as a primary force on the league’s leading offense, taking his place alongside Steve Young, Jerry Rice, J.J. Stokes and Terrell Owens.

He leads the NFC in yards from scrimmage with 740 (481 rushing and 259 receiving). He’s averaging 18.1 yards per catch and 5.1 yards per carry for a 6.9-yard average gain every time he touches the ball.

He’s on pace for 2,368 yards in offense and 1,539 yards rushing this season, which would both be team records.

“I don’t know that they’ve ever had a runner with the combination of size and speed that Garrison Hearst has,” says Atlanta coach Dan Reeves. “He’s extremely explosive. He can go the distance at any time.”

The New York Jets know all about that. Hearst beat them with an unforgettable 96-yard touchdown run in overtime for a 36-30 victory in the opener.

A quick-hitting play typically good for no more than a few yards, Hearst flashed his speed, power and elusiveness to turn it into the longest run from scrimmage in 49ers history.

The mark he surpassed--Hugh McElhenny’s 86-yard run against the Dallas Texans on Oct. 5, 1952--had been the longest standing individual record in club history.

“It felt great, just being a part of that,” says guard Ray Brown, who threw a key block to help spring Hearst’s historic run. “But that whole thing was on his back. He made some great plays.”

Steve Sabol of NFL Films calls Hearst’s record-breaker the greatest run in NFL history, surpassing Young’s dynamic game-winning 49-yard scramble against Minneosta in 1989.

No way, says Hearst.

“I don’t think it’s the greatest run, because I’ve seen so many great runs growing up, and being here and just seeing things,” Hearst says. “I’m flattered and I love it, but to me personally, I don’t think it’s the greatest run.”

Hearst won’t argue about the benefits of coming to San Francisco as a free agent prior to last season, rescuing his teetering career.

The second-leading rusher in Georgia’s history, trailing only Herschel Walker, Hearst was selected by the Cardinals, who traded up a spot to get him. But he was limited to six games in his rookie campaign, going down with a season-ending knee injury.

Hearst began the following season on the physically unable to perform list and his recovery, marred by some complications, wasn’t fast enough to suit Buddy Ryan, then the Cardinals coach.

Relations between the two became strained during 1994, when Hearst appeared in only eight games. But he ran for 1,070 yards in 1995 to win comeback player of the year honors. By then, Ryan was out, a new regime was in place for the 1996 season and Hearst was released, claimed by Cincinnati off waivers.

Hearst says he and Ryan had made up somewhat during his final season in Arizona.

“It was my second year when we went through all the verbal confrontation,” Hearst says. “My last year there, I was his man. He only says good things about me. If he had stayed, I probably would still have been the starter in Arizona.

“But there was a new coach (Vince Tobin) and a new system and they wanted their guy in and they wanted to sign their players, and I was one of the guys they felt they could get rid of and still win.”

Hearst had 847 yards rushing in 1996 for Cincinnati, but never felt the team intended to make a longterm commitment to him after doing that with Ki-Jana Carter.

Arizona’s and Cincinnati’s loss has turned into San Francisco’s gain.

“I’ve never wondered why, but I’m thankful they let him go,” McKittrick says.

Hearst had 1,019 yards on the ground last season despite missing a month with a broken collarbone. He’s given the 49ers the running threat they have lacked since Ricky Watters left after the 1994 season.

His presence has provided balance and an element of unpredictability in the 49ers offense.

Hearst, who refers to the offensive linemen as “my babies,” also has endeared himself to teammates with his unselfish style of play and warm and friendly locker room chatter.

“We’re very loose in here and we’re just trying to keep things going,” Hearst says. “I walk around and try to talk to everybody I can and just try to keep things upbeat around here and then get our work done on the field.”