Kentwan Balmer Selected at 29

The 49ers wasted no time in making their pick at 29. They only used two and a half minutes to decide that defensive end Kentwan Balmer was their man.

Overview
Regarded as the premier defensive lineman in his area coming out of high school, Kentwan Balmer finally lived up to his vast potential as a senior with the Tar Heels.

The former defensive end was shifted to defensive tackle as a junior, but it was not until the arrival of coach Butch Davis that Balmer excelled on the football field. Davis took the talented youngster under his wing and Balmer surpassed his cumulative statistical production from his first three seasons during his final year.

Balmer earned All-Area and All-Conference honors as a junior and senior at Weldon High School. The 2003 Area Defensive Player of the Year helped the team produce three shutouts in their first six games that year. He posted 113 tackles, 12 sacks, eight pass breakups and six fumble recoveries his final campaign. As a junior, he registered 103 tackles, 11 sacks and scored a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery....