SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Kevan Barlow has learned plenty about sharing since the days when he hoarded all the Halloween candy he collected in his Franco Harris costume.

For the last two seasons, Barlow has shared playing time in the San Francisco 49ers’ backfield in a sometimes testy partnership with Garrison Hearst. Though neither running back really would prefer to share, Barlow has learned patience and teamwork during his extended apprenticeship.

“You always want to be the guy, but this is working for us,” Barlow said. “Whether it’ll be that way in the future, I don’t know. Part of me wants to be the only guy, but part of me likes it.”

Barlow is a native Pittsburgher and a lifelong Steelers fan who shared a training complex with the Steelers during his college career at Pitt. He got his first chance to run against his favorite team when the 49ers faced the Steelers on Monday night. During the 49ers’ bye last weekend, Barlow flew home for several rounds of trash-talking with his extended family about the upcoming meeting.

“I’ve got to do something to get on TV,” Barlow said. “I’ve got to let everybody in Pittsburgh see me. I’m going to get in the camera and go, ‘Grandma, did you see that?”‘

Barlow said he has been compared to Harris, the Steelers’ Hall of Fame running back, since high school. His powerful running style contrasts sharply to Hearst’s shifty, speedy technique, making for difficult game-planning for opponents. But some believe Barlow would develop into a more complete back without sharing.

“He’s a super young man and good running back,” said Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who coached Barlow three years ago at the Senior Bowl. “We really liked him coming out of college. I think what you see with that kid is you can see a big powerful running back with great balance. His success does not come as a surprise.”

Barlow’s candor and playfulness have been a refreshing addition to the 49ers ever since draft day two years ago, when he willingly named several teams on which he planned revenge for failing to choose him.

He moved straight into the 49ers’ powerful ground attack in 2001, rushing for 512 yards. Hearst also rushed for 1,206 yards in his first year back from a career-threatening leg injury, and San Francisco’s tailback tandem was set.

“I think it’s good, because you need two good backs to survive in this league,” Hearst said. “We respect each other on the field and on the practice field, and that’s really all you can do.”

But Barlow’s three years in San Francisco haven’t all been rosy.

He has a long-standing grudge against fullback Fred Beasley, apparently because Barlow once thought Beasley didn’t block as well for him as Beasley does for Hearst, his close friend. Barlow and Beasley got in a locker-room fight last season, but have since settled into calm animosity.

And new coach Dennis Erickson hasn’t been as sold on the tandem arrangement as his predecessor, Steve Mariucci: The 49ers considered trading Barlow to the Dallas Cowboys at the trade deadline, but couldn’t get enough in return.

But Barlow still believes he’s the 49ers’ tailback of the future. After enduring bouts of homesickness during his first two years in the league, he feels much more settled in California this fall – even if he still keeps a Harris jersey in his closet.

“I’m more mature now than I was when I first came in,” Barlow said. “I’m going to do anything I have to do to succeed now. This is a business and a job, but it’s still fun.”

AP-ES-11-17-03 1934EST