Observations from Monday's Charlotte 49ers football practice

--The 49ers' best options at the receiver and slotback positions stand at 5-foot-9 (Austin Duke) and 5-10 (Mikel Hunter).

And while the playmaking potential of Duke and Hunter will be significant factors in Charlotte’s spread offense this season, finding a bigger, more physical possession receiver is a high priority.

There are candidates for that role, but when freshman receiver Jamel Ross (6-3, 215 pounds) was lost for the season in July with a knee injury, the list became shorter.

Ross was a likely starter who caught four passes for 47 yards in Charlotte’s spring game.

“We’ve got some guys who are stepping up to take that spot for Jamel,” said coach Brad Lambert.

Candidates include redshirt freshman E.J. Rhinehart (6-4, 2-5), true freshman Trent Bostick (6-1, 195) and junior college transfer Dmarjai Devine (6-3, 210).

The 49ers will also use the H back (a tight end-slot receiver hybrid) in the passing game. C.J. Crawford, a transfer from Marshall, and redshirt freshman Justin Bolus have been splitting reps with the first team in preseason practice. Bolus has been impressive in camp, especially going for high passes over the middle.

-- Receiver Will Thomas injured his right ankle during a passing drill and spent the rest of practice walking around with an ice wrap. Also, offensive lineman Danny Book was held out of practice with a head injury.

-- The competition for long snapper involves two inexperienced players – true freshman Keaston Sinicki (Charlotte Catholic) and redshirt freshman Zach Bumgarner (Hickory St. Stephens).

Sinicki’s only position is long snapper, while Bumgarner is a backup offensive lineman.

They’re going for a job that is perhaps the most anonymous in football. The only time a long snapper gets attention is when he fails to do his job properly.

“We’re trying to put pressure on them, but we might not make a decision until the day before our first game,” said Lambert. “And long snapper is the kind of position where you don’t want anybody to know who you are. If your name shows up in the paper, it’s not good.”

--  The 49ers practiced twice Monday and will have another double session Wednesday, with the first practice beginning at 8:30 a.m. When fall classes start next Monday, they will practice weekdays at 4 p.m.

-- A student drum line has been practicing for 49ers home games. Charlotte won’t have a marching band until 2015 (it will start at 150 members). The game day experience will be different that season from 2013: Richardson Stadium also will have Conference USA-mandated lights and will likely be expanded by then (either temporarily or on a permanent basis).