Quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005, finds himself in a three-way battle for the starting San Francisco 49ers quarterback job against two players whose most extensive professional playing time came in the now-defunct NFL Europe.

The team's quarterback competition has been muddled since the end of last season, when coach Mike Nolan announced Smith, with whom he was publicly feuding at the time, would have to win the starting job from Shaun Hill.

Now, there is a third quarterback who is receiving attention for the No. 1 job. His name is J.T. O'Sullivan. He did not attempt his first NFL pass until his sixth NFL season -- just like Hill.

Yet, Nolan and offensive coordinator Mike Martz insist O'Sullivan is a serious candidate for the starting job after the club held its mandatory minicamp last week.

"Probably the biggest impression that I got out of the quarterback position is that it is probably going to be a three-man race rather than just two," Nolan said. "I think J.T. O'Sullivan is going to be in the thick of it. So I'm excited about that. That makes it all the tougher, but as we all well know as was evidenced last year by our football team, one quarterback doesn't typically get it done."

Martz discovered O'Sullivan a year ago, watching NFL Europe game film. Martz, then-offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, helped bring O'Sullivan to the team. Then, O'Sullivan rose quickly up the depth chart and won the backup job to Jon Kitna.

When asked what he saw from O'Sullivan on game film, Martz described O'Sullivan's ability to make plays in chaotic situations.

"When we saw him in Europe, he made incredible throws under duress, which makes a real difference in quarterbacks," Martz said. "It's a real key. In Europe, he flicks the ball and hits the guy on a dead run. He has uncanny accuracy. He sees thing. He's mobile, he's tough. He's all those things."

The quarterbacks' next big test will be the 12 days of practices in June at so-called organized team activities. After the final day of those workouts, June 20, the 49ers will not reconvene until training camp opens July 24.

At this stage, Martz said he would be comfortable with either of the three quarterbacks winning the starting job.

"If coach came in and says, 'I want to play this guy,' I'd be comfortable with whatever he says," Martz said. "We'll go play. I have great confidence in them."

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