A lightly recruited high school prospect, Scott Tolzien entered his junior season at Wisconsin as the Badgers’ third-string quarterback.

Despite his lack of pedigree, and his positioning, Tolzien quickly emerged from the dregs of the depth chart and became a two-year starter who won the Johnny Unitas Award, given to the nation’s top senior quarterback.

Tolzien invoked his experience Wednesday as he discussed his latest less-than-ideal situation.

An undrafted free agent entering his second season, Tolzien is the 49ers‘ No. 4 quarterback behind Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Josh Johnson. Tolzien’s chances of moving up the depth chart appear remote, but he said he’s drawing on his college experience while following Jim Harbaugh’s just-get-better-every-day advice.

“Coach is always saying ‘Work and don’t worry,’ ” said Tolzien, who set career records at Wisconsin for completion percentage (68.1) and passer rating (153.2). “That’s just the way I’m trying to approach it. That’s the best way to approach it.

“I was in the same position in college, and it doesn’t do you any good to measure yourself against the other guy on a day-to-day basis.”

Of course, a difference between now and college is that Tolzien’s competition is no longer Dustin Sherer and Curt Phillips, the quarterbacks he beat out in 2009.

In Tolzien’s favor, he appears to have earned the confidence of Harbaugh, who believes each of the team’s quarterbacks will have a lengthy NFL career.

Tolzien has practice-squad eligibility – he was on the 53-man roster but inactive for every game last season – and he figures to attract interest from other teams if he doesn’t survive the roster cuts. Tolzien said his focus is on improving – after practice Wednesday, he chatted with Smith and Johnson as they lifted weights together.

“A lot of times, we’re discussing plays from the practice,” Tolzien said. “What was your thought on this play? What was the look we were getting? … We’re all professionals and we’re all trying to learn from one another. Shoot, some rep that Alex had, who knows – I might have that same play tomorrow, so I want to learn from what he saw on it so I can maximize my rep.”