49ERS NOTEBOOK

Top pick bonds with longshot

(Sunday, May 07, 2006)

First-round pick Vernon Davis already has a protege on the 49ers. The tight end from Maryland is serving as a mentor for Onye Ibekwe.

Ibekwe, a power forward from the Long Beach State basketball team who hasn't played football since high school, was signed as a rookie free agent just before the 49ers' three-day minicamp, which concludes today.

Davis was in the same class at Maryland as Ibekwe's younger brother, Ekene, a forward on the Terrapins' basketball team. Davis and Ekene know each other well.

When Onye was waiting to get signed after the draft, he and his brother talked about Davis.

"It just so happened that San Francisco was the one most interested (in signing me)," Ibekwe said. "He's one of the top draft picks. Being somebody who hasn't played since the 10th grade, I'm looking at him for guidance. I'm learning a lot."

Before the 49ers' first practice Friday, Ibekwe told Davis who he was. When Davis asked what position he played and Ibekwe said tight end, Davis's eyes got big. At 6-foot-5, 256 pounds, Ibekwe is a couple inches taller and about the same weight as Davis.

Not that Davis should feel threatened.

"He has some physical tools," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said of Ibekwe, who hasn't had many opportunities from scrimmage in this camp. "He also has a lot to learn."

There is a third Ibekwe with college basketball experience, but this one isn't likely to get a look from the NFL -- Chinyere Ibekwe averaged 12 minutes a game as a 6-4 freshman for UCLA's women's team last season.

Careful Larry: Nolan talked to notoriously strong left guard Larry Allen and a few other players about being careful during minicamp. Nolan doesn't want players getting hurt when they go against Allen.

"When you're in shorts, he can literally maul a guy," Nolan said. "If he throws a guy off a block to just get him out of the way, the guy flies a little different. He doesn't just move over."

Weighty issues: Some players look bigger than when last seen, such as wide receivers Marcus Maxwell and Otis Amey. However, some are too big. Nolan said Allen could drop a few pounds and so could newly-signed safety Chad Williams.

E-mail Kevin Lynch at klynch@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page C - 7 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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