Max Brown's whisper and Trexler Ivey's statement without words spoke volumes about Charlotte's quarterback room.

The five-man group is connected, and a shared humility is the enabler.

Brown was looking for a post-Florida chance as a redshirt sophomore when Mike Miller and Tim Brewster ventured to Gainesville. The offensive coordinator and leader of the quarterbacks joined the latter, the 49ers' newly added associate head coach at a dinner with their potential future quarterback.

The conversation started with introductions. Charlotte wanted to add to its quarterback room and Brown was a target, so much so that the two coaches needed only 48 hours to meet him after the 49ers' finale against South Florida.

It was Brewster's first trip with the program, even before he came to North Carolina's metro area.

Brown's explanation of his path started with baseball, a sport he played all his life before he added organized football to the fold in fifth grade. It's the same sport his Dad reached the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers after he cemented himself as a deep-threat receiver at Tulsa.

Miller had to stop him mid-monologue for clarification.

"He just said very nonchalantly, 'Yeah, I played baseball here at Florida and was going to get drafted out of high school but I wanted to play professional football,'" Miller said. "You're like, 'Wait, wait, wait, you were going to get drafted?' I couldn't believe how nonchalant he was about being a professional baseball prospect."

The background appeared as soon as Miller watched Brown throw.

He coached DeShaun Watson at Clemson; Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones at Alabama, and Tua's younger brother, Taulia, at Maryland. The group's ability to quickly release the ball showed up in Brown's game. The third-ranked shortstop in Oklahoma's 2022 class brought his double-play ability to the quick passing game.

The 49ers represented an opportunity for Brown's skill set to translate to program history.

It restarted in 2015 as a Conference USA member after the program's close in 1949. The school's growing enrollment and facilities have seen the impact, and Head Coach Biff Poggi was chosen as the leader who could build a consistent winner.

Brown returned to his high school number, and the "1" he wears is fitting as he looks to deliver the 49ers' first bowl win in 2024. It was a challenge that drove him to commit.

"I wanted to be around guys who want the same thing as me — be the start of a new program and success at Charlotte and leave our mark," Brown said. "It's something the coaching staff and players wanted to do, and I wanted it too."

Charlotte's redshirt junior incumbent shared a similar humility and hunger, and they have helped set the tone for Miller's ideal group.

Ivey appeared in 11 games last year and threw for 1,263 yards. Brown and incoming freshman Deshawn Purdie threatened his playing time, but he chose to stay and compete. His quarterback role has added teaching duties in fall camp.

The combination is pushing the quarterbacks while giving them the help needed to learn a new system quickly.

"Trexler deserves credit, he probably could've gone somewhere else, but he stayed for his teammates and the betterment of the program," Miller said. "He's been awesome as a leader and a person. He's become another coach on the field."

The goal is to blend competition and cooperation, just like the offense's hope to blend the pass and run games seamlessly.

Film sessions and quarterbacks meetings show the bond the five, which includes Andre Washington and Tanner Bushee, have created. Fall camp has allowed each to earn reps during team and individual periods. Ivey shows off the system's quirks, and Brown exemplifies off-platform throws that come naturally to a former baseball standout. Purdie's size-strength combination furthers the 49ers' versatility.

"It's a tight-knit group," Miller said. "I explained to them early on before fall camp that we're only going to be as good as the collective group — the tighter we are, the tighter our offensive unit will be. If there's any hint of dissension or divisiveness, it just splinters.

"We haven't had any of that."

Charlotte looks to avoid splinters in any position group but needs the quarterbacks to be as cohesive as possible in its pursuit of winning. It requires leaders, and hustle from one drill to another and constant communication rubs off quickly to other positions.

The 49ers have curated it under Poggi and Miller, with Brewster's impact being felt too. The players are benefiting greatly.