Former OSU basketball player trying N F L

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Former Oklahoma State basketball player Onye Ibekwe is trying his hand at the National Football League. <br/><br/>Ibekwe signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers and is trying

Monday, June 26th 2006, 6:40 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Former Oklahoma State basketball player Onye Ibekwe is trying his hand at the National Football League.

Ibekwe signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers and is trying to make the same jump that San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates made after playing basketball at Kent State in college.

Ibekwe spent two years at OSU, playing in 11 games as a redshirt freshman during the 2002-2003 season.

The California native completed his hoops career at Long Beach State and then began thinking he might like to follow in Gates' footsteps.

San Francisco 49ers coach Pete Hoener says Ibekwe must overcome a long layoff from football and a lack of a football background.