Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers went looking for a few good men on Day Two of the NFLDraft. They too, found Milem.

Milem, a 24-year-old defensive end who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 290 pounds, was taken by the 49ers on the fifth round. He was the ninth player chosen by the 49ers, who had stockpiled a passel of picks. He was the 150th selection overall.

In his daydreams, Milem, who played last fall at Lenoir-Rhyne, visualized himself going higher. He imagined himself being chosen between Peter Warrick and Jamal Lewis, not a San Diego State defensive end named Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (No. 149) and a Texas Southern kick returner named Joey Jamison (151).

But Milem was considerably more elated than deflated.

“I’m satisfied,” he said. “I slipped a little further down than I’d hoped for, but I’m still just a Division II kid whose played two years of college ball. I’m excited and my family and friends are excited. And, hey, I’ll get to play against those Carolina Panthers (the 49ers’ divisional rival) every year.”

Milem had ample reason to believe that his size and the impressive speed (4.71 for 40 yards) and power numbers (he bench-pressed 225 pounds 27 times) he posted in recent workouts might elevate him into Saturday’s first three rounds. But it didn’t happen and Milem spent a tossin’-and-turnin’ Saturday night.

“Did I sleep?” asks Milem. “No, not much. It was pretty tense on Saturday around here.”

And that’s when he heard the phone ring.

On the other end of the line was San Francisco’s defensive line coach. Calls followed quickly from 49er head coach Steve Mariucci and the player personnel people.

“I thought the 49ers might be the one,” says Milem. “They flew out here just last week. There were five teams that were high on me, that I thought were likely to take me. San Fran was one of them. I’m fortunate. San Fran’s a great organization — a dynasty.”

Shortly after the initial phone calls, Milem’s name was announced to the world on ESPN 2.

“And after that, the phone was ringing off the hook,” says Milem.

There were well-wishers and the area papers, of course. Milem was also part of a conference call with 10 San Francisco area reporters. All of them wanted to know about Milem’s magic carpet ride from West (Class of ‘93) to Mars Hill to the Marines to being a Three-B man (body-building, bartending and bouncing) to Lenoir-Rhyne to the 49ers.

It is an extraordinary story. Milem beat astronomical odds yesterday, just to carve his name on someone’s draft board. Several players with local connections who were considered draft possibilities weren’t as fortunate. East Carolina linebacker Jeff Kerr (of South Rowan), Livingstone defensive lineman Ronnie Washburn and Catawba offensive lineman Brian Hinson will have to go the free agent route.

Only 254 players were chosen in the seven-round draft. Seventy-two percent of those players (182) came from seven high-profile leagues — the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Conference USA, Pac 10 and SEC. Even programs like UNC, UCLA, Texas and Notre Dame had only one player apiece chosen. Thanks to Milem, Lenoir-Rhyne equalled the Tar Heels, Bruins, Longhorns and Irish in NFL contributions. Milem was the only SAC-8 player to hear his name called and one of only 21 defensive ends across the nation.

Fittingly, the pick that landed Milem was as well-traveled as he is. It started out in the hands of Detroit. Then it was traded to St. Louis, who passed it on like a hot potato to Chicago. The 49ers finally got No. 150 — and Milem — by shipping sixth and seventh round picks to the Bears.

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Despite his fifth-round status, Milem won’t just get an opportunity to make the team, he’ll get a chance to play immediately, according to both Frisco writers and Mariucci.

“Coach told me to be ready to play,” said Milem. “They really stacked their defense in this draft, but he said they wanted me to come in and play left defensive end. One of the writers asked if I’d looked at the depth chart at left end. I said Ihadn’t. He told me I’d better, because I’m the only one there.”

The 49ers were woeful defensively last year. That’s why they drafted eight defenders the past two days. One of those draftees is celebrated Virginia Tech All-America defensive end John Engelberger, whom they grabbed with the 35th pick. But they’ve explained to Milem that Engelberger figures to be a stand-up linemen on the right side. The two young giants weren’t drafted with the same position in mind.

Milem will head to 49ers mini-camp on April 26 for five days of work. Then, on May 15, he plans to head to the bay to stay.

Milem doesn’t know anyone on the 49ers, but he does have a pretty good idea who his roommate out west will be— Shannon Myers. Myers (of North Rowan High and Lenoir-Rhyne) is still progressing well in a rehabilitation stint that should put him on the Raiders’ active roster for 2000.

“Shannon will only be about 40 miles away in Oakland,” says Milem, laughing. “We’ll live somewhere in the middle. Yeah, we’re just gonna be two good old California boys.”