49ers name O'Sullivan starting quarterback

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- San Francisco's J.T. O'Sullivan, who has never started an NFL regular season game, will be the team's starting quarterback, Coach Mike Nolan said Friday.

O'Sullivan won the job in competition with Alex Smith and Shaun Hill.

"The determining factor was that J.T. had the better command of the three," Nolan said. "This is not a case of Shaun or Alex not playing well. This is a case of O'Sullivan performing very well."

Smith will be the backup and Hill the No. 3 quarterback.

O'Sullivan passed for 126 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers' 37-30 preseason win over the Chicago Bears Thursday.