SANTA CLARA – The 49ers will have a full house for today's first training camp practice after first-round draft pick Kentwan Balmer signed a five-year contract Thursday.
The big defensive lineman out of North Carolina said he shed a few tears with his father, Charles, a long-haul truck driver, when he reached agreement on the deal Wednesday night. He became emotional again when he actually signed the document Thursday morning.
"I almost teared up, like, a couple of times," said Balmer, the last of the team's six draft picks to sign. "It's still so unreal to me. It's a dream come true."
Balmer's deal is for $11 million total, $6 million of it guaranteed.
Balmer is one of several players engaged in a position battle this summer. He is currently listed No. 2 on the depth chart at left defensive end behind Isaac Sopoaga. He also could see time at nose tackle, where Aubrayo Franklin is the incumbent.
The biggest competition, of course, will be at quarterback, where Alex Smith and Shaun Hill will continue to share snaps with the first-team offense.
Coach Mike Nolan has said the tentative plan is to allow each player to start one exhibition game before he, offensive coordinator Mike Martz and quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner decide on a long-term starter by the third exhibition game in Chicago on Aug. 21.
Smith acknowledged he and Hill have a tough balancing act ahead of them. Martz wants them to loosen up and take chances in a passing game, a concept Smith called "cutting it loose." But neither player wants to make mistakes that allow his competitor to get a leg up.
Still, Smith said he does not resent the competition and seemed happy and relaxed on the eve of his fourth training camp with his fourth offensive coordinator. He also said there was enough time to master Martz's offenses while sharing snaps.
"Camp's so long, and there are four preseason games," he said. "I think (there's enough time). I don't know exactly when they're planning on naming a starter."
More position battles will occur on the right side of the offensive line.
At right guard, David Baas is recovering from a torn chest tendon and could miss the exhibition season. Tony Wragge will practice with the first-team offensive line initially but will be challenged by second-round draft pick Chilo Rachal, who has been moved back to right guard.
To their right, Jonas Jennings will try to fend off ex-Raider Barry Sims, who was signed in June. Jennings is the more talented of the two, but his frequent injury issues have landed him in Nolan's doghouse.
On defense, several players will compete to play next to second-year linebacker Patrick Willis. Nine-year veteran Jeff Ulbrich is the early leader at "Ted" linebacker, but Brandon Moore, Dontarrious Thomas and rookie Larry Grant will have a shot at the job.
Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.
