The Ballad Of Cory Beech

Penn State was coming off of a successful season having captured a Fiesta bowl win. The heart and soul of the Penn State defense was Senior Linebacker Cory Beech. He was the singal caller on defense, led the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and showed his coverage skills netting 13 career interceptions while in college. However once the confetti fell and he celebrated with his teammates a strange feeling began to come over Beech. He realized that a chapter in his life had just closed and it was on to the next step. Beech had not really been focused on what his future might hold in terms of an Redzone career profesionally. Cory had this to say days after the Fiesta Bowl win "I am focused on celebrating with my teammates and enjoying the bonds we have shared over the last four years, having to leave is bitter sweet because I feel like I have a home here and an indentity that I no longer have with my eligibility being up".

Beech would shift over the next couple of days towards his pro prospects but would recieve mixed reviews on his college game tape, some scouts gave him a mid round pick evaluation and others had him as a fringe first round prospect. With uncertantiy in the air Beech continued to work out at the facilites he had called home the last four years. Coach James Franklin went on the offensive for his All Conference linebacker calling him one of the smartest most instinctual football players he had ever had the privelege or coaching. Now college coaches will hype guys up all the time but Coach Franklin was willing to put his money where his mouth was "Anyone who drafts Cory Beech is getting a hell of a football player and an even better human being... any questions about his physical abilites on the next level will be proven if someone gives him a chance to play on Sunday's I am sure of that" Beech said that endorsment and support of his college head coach motivated him even more to prove the doubters wrong. His combine and pro day numbers were not anything to write home about but some scouts were enamored with his coverage skills he showed off in college often guarding the other teams best non wideout weapon.

Time passed and we were on to draft day, the Beech family sat in their home located in Mobile Alabama waiting to see if their son would be drafted. The first round aired on Thrusday night and the whole family waited with anticipation. Team after team made selections and Beech's phone stayed silent. As for any prospect as the night waned into its later stages their was frustation in the living room. Cory quitely walked out the garage door and decided to take a walk. It was a cold 55 degrees and Beech was just trying to keep his mind in check as his hopes, dreams and goals were all in question at this point. A text comes in from a number Beech has never seen, the texter quickly revelaed himself to be Him Juseman who just taken over the Jacksonville Jaguars after Urban Meyers untimely death. The team runs a 3-4 and coach Juseman told Beech that he saw him as a perfect fit next to pro bowl linebacker Myles Jack in their scheme. Juseman let him know that if he lasted to pick 37 the 7th selection of the 2nd round that he would be the name that was announced at the podium the next night.

Beech rushes back home to find his worried family and give them the good news. One of the teams he had grown up watching due to the proximity of Jacksonville to Mobile was poised to draft him. The family rejoiced and figured worst case he would be drafted even earlier than that. The second night of the draft rolls around and the mood is clearly much ligther than it was just 24 hours beforehand. The draft starts and pick after pick begins to fly off the board some good football players going to begin their own journey to superstardom. Pick 37 comes up and just as promised the Jacksonville Jaguars selected the 22 year old Cory Beech from Penn State. Beech had finally realized his dream and been drafted by an NFL team. His family rejoiced and they celebrated into the night. The next day Beech got to work.

Coach Him Juseman gushed about the 2nd round pick during their offseason program. "He is always here and working... he has a full command of the playbook already which is unusal for a rookie." Beech would be at the facility at every oppurtunity trying to work on his craft and stick with the team. He got signifigant playing time in the preseason and unseated the host of other defenders who had been used as roation players in that linebacker spot. Beech had earned a day one starting spot next to Jack and the Jaguars were thrilled he had made so much progress quickly. The team finished 9-8 just falling short of the playoffs in Beech's rookie year. The following campaign did not go as well and Jacksonville fell to just 6 wins on the season.

Beech in his third season has been ultra impressive, he is one of the best coverage linebackers in the game at this point and does his fair share to stop the oppoents run game. For his career to this point he has 135 solo tackles, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 9 interceptions, 4 defensive scores, and added a touchdown earlier this season a full back in a goal line set. The Jaguars took a chance on a kid from Mobile who went to a well known school but fell through the cracks. Any knocks on Beech as an athlete have long been proven to be untrue, he is one of the faster linebackers in the league speed wise at this point and gives running backs/tight ends a lot of trouble when he has them in coverage. This has been the ballad of Cory Beech.