SANTA CLARA -- Rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard comes to the 49ers as a third-round draft pick and No. 3 on the team’s depth chart behind presumptive starter Brian Hoyer and veteran backup Matt Barkley.
He also steps onto the practice field for the first time Friday wearing No. 3 for the 49ers’ rookie minicamp.
“There were a couple of options,” Beathard said. “It’s just for minicamp right now, but I think I’ll stay with that number if I have a chance to.”
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Beathard wore No. 16 at Iowa. That option is not available with the 49ers. Joe Montana’s jersey number is retired and out of service. Montana was a third-round pick of the 49ers in 1979 in Bill Walsh’s first draft.
Coincidentally, Montana wore No. 3 during his college career at Notre Dame.
Beathard, who was lauded for his leadership skills while in college, will step into a similar role for the 49ers’ newcomers this weekend. He came from a pro-style offense at Iowa, so he’ll be expected to be further along in guiding his offensive teammates. Quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello sent him some excerpts of the playbook before reporting to Santa Clara on Thursday.
“I’ve been able to look it over the past few days and get a little look at what’s coming up the next few days,” Beathard said.
San Francisco 49ers
“I know how to break down an offense and look at an offense. The terminology is completely different, but it (the playbook) does make sense.”
The 49ers welcomed 31 new players this week to fill out its 90-man offseason roster.
The team’s rookies – 10 draft picks and 18 undrafted free agents – traveled to 49ers headquarters on Thursday to take part in a minicamp scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Here are the uniform numbers issued to the new players (it is common for teams to issue duplicate numbers during the time of the offseason when there is a 90-player roster):
Draft picks
3-C.J. Beathard, QB
33-Joe Williams, RB
41-Ahkello Witherspoon, CB
47-Adrian Colbert, CB
49-Pita Taumeopenu, DE/OLB
56-Reuben Foster, LB
66-D.J. Jones, DT
81-Trent Taylor, WR
85-George Kittle, TE
96-Solomon Thomas, DL
Undrafted rookies
1-Nick Mullens, QB
1-Victor Bolden, WR
6-Kendrick Bourne, WR
31-Zach Franklin, DB
46-Malik Golden, S
46-Cole Hikutini, TE
47-Tyler McCloskey, FB
48-Lorenzo Jerome, DB
49-Matt Breida, RB
60-Jimmie Gilbert, LB
60-J.P. Flynn, Montana OL
62-Erik Magnuson, OL
62-Donavin Newsom, LB
64-Evan Goodman, OL
64-Noble Nwachukwu, DE
69-Bret Treadway, OL
75-Darrell Williams Jr., OT
83-KD Cannon, WR