'05 WI LB Travis Beckum (Wisconsin signee)

[Buckskin86]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/prep/aug04/254025.asp

[quote]On football field, Oak Creek standouts are not the boys next door
Posted: Aug. 25, 2004

Beckum is more easygoing in his explanation, but the message is the same.

"I'm like a beast," said Beckum, a senior linebacker. "I've got to admit, I love to hit. I just fly everywhere. I love to make hits and make things happen."

Beckum is the consensus No. 1 football prospect in the state of Wisconsin. Nationwide, he is ranked No. 64 overall and fifth among linebackers by Rivals.com.

But even as scouts from schools such as Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Oklahoma knock one another over to get their hands on these talented seniors, Beckum and Henderson carry on, content with being themselves.

"I'm just out here playing football," a cool Beckum said.

Beckum arrived at Oak Creek as a freshman and made an instant impression on the coaching staff.

"His athleticism just jumped right out," Knights coach Joe Koch said. "He was so far advanced as a freshman that it wouldn't even be fair to keep him (with the freshmen)."

Early advancement
He started on the junior varsity and eventually made his way to the varsity of one of the most storied programs in the Milwaukee area.

As a freshman, Beckum was placed on the defensive line, then moved to linebacker.

There, Beckum said, he grew confident in his abilities.

"I feel more open, where I can do anything," Beckum said. "I can still blitz. I can still cover receivers and tackle."

Solid at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Beckum's physique allows him to be moved around the Oak Creek defense with ease.

"You have to account for him, no matter where he's at," Koch said. "He's big enough to be at the end, he's fast enough to play corner and he's physical enough and has the combination to play linebacker."

Beckum may be intimidating as part of the Oak Creek defense, but this Superman goes back to being Clark Kent at the end of the day.

Between playing football and basketball at Oak Creek, he works at a local Menard's helping customers in the plumbing and hardware departments.

"This is how I am," Beckum said. "I'm an easygoing person and very easy to talk to, very friendly.

"When it comes down to football, I don't have any friends on the football field except my team. I bring it to everybody as if they're a person trying to take my money or something."

Ready to move on
For now, Beckum's and Henderson's attention is on Oak Creek football.

Both were on hand as the unbeaten Knights surrendered a double-digit lead to Arrowhead in the fourth quarter of the state semifinal and lost, 26-25, last November.

This version of the Knights does not have the experienced personnel of the 2003 season, but Beckum and Henderson are ready to do their part in order to make this season a special one for Oak Creek.

"If we can get that far, we might as well take it all of the way," Beckum said. "It's got to happen before I graduate. It just brings you back for the next year to play even harder."

[BuckNutty]

Insiders Premium

FSU, Miami, Tennessee and Ohio State are Beckum's top 4 schools. FSU wants him as a DE, the rest want him as an OLB. He says he considers his teammate Raymond Henderson to be like a brother to him and they would like to go to the same school. Two games into his senior year Beckum has an interception and 3 sacks.

[BuckeyeNation27]

where does henderson look to be going?

[BuckNutty]

Henderson hasn't decided where he's going to visit. Schools on both he and Beckum's list are Miami, Tennessee, and Ohio State. Considering they play at Oak Creek you have to believe Miami is the favorite if they really choose to go to the same school.

[BuckeyeNation27]

dammit nutty give me some good news for once

[BuckNutty]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNation27

dammit nutty give me some good news for once

Um, both Kurelic and Duane think we have a legitimate shot at Beckum

[Buckskin86]

Kurelic premium

Beckum says he will definetly visit tOSU (sounds like he is developing a good relationship with Fickel). Raymond Henderson said he would also visit tOSU if Beckum visited. So we should be expecting both in C-bus.

[stowfan]

This link may explain the new found love for the Buckeyes. I now think there will be real interest from both of these guys. It also arrests my worst fears about Taz. http://mb10.theinsiders.com/fmiami20...cID=7751.topic

[Naplesbuckeye]

Stow can you paste or summarize.....many of us have been booted from there for sometime and can not access the string.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Naplesbuckeye

Stow can you paste or summarize.....many of us have been booted from there for sometime and can not access the string.

Here ya go, Napes...

<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width=95%><tr><td bgcolor=#000000><table border=0 width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=1><tr><td valign=top bgcolor=#ffffff class=headings><font color=#000000>Author</font></td><td valign=top bgcolor=#ffffff class=headings><font color=#000000>Comment</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=sewanee>sewanee</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Bench Warmer</span><br> Posts: 119<br> <font color=#000000>(9/14/04 10:43:51 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> I have no premium info, but here is my prediction based on needs next year. We are at 83 scholarships, currently?If so I have Kerr and C. Hill filling up the remaining two ships. <br><br>Let's see, our seniors are: Berlin, Crudup, Humphrey, Cobia, Everett, Rodriguez, Myers, S. Thomas, A. Wright, and Antrel Rolle. That's 10 spots. and most predicted classes I have seen on this board are anywhere from 11 spots to 18, with most predictions around 15-17 spots (Kerr and Hill are outside of these spots as they complete the 85. <br>Orien Harris will be a likely first round pick, and I would guess Eric Winston would be, too. Ok, that's 12 spots. How many 2005-2006 fifth year not very football productive seniors are willing to leave a traditional powerhouse with great weather and schooling and leave behind their college years?Probably not many, as the &quot;U&quot; is the place to be even if you're not playing, but still loving to be on the team. <br><br> Ok, so I'm at 12 spots. I will factor in the possible defections and early graduates later. <br><br><br>Qb 1 - Shaw<br><br>rb 0- Antone will be factored in later because we will already have 5 on the roster including 3 underclassmen. He is a star talent, but we have more of a necessity at. <br><br> FB 1 -(we only have 1 after this year. a necessity!)<br> Matt Lewis, K. Harris, C. Collins, Bailey from Armwood is a total badass but I think he wants to be a runningback. He scored 6 touchdowns last week, and must be one of the top 7-8 backs in the country. <br><br> wr- 1 two upcoming seniors, Jolla still hasn't shown anything. need one- Mike Moore, Baldwin, Turreine, Turner, Rouse, Hester<br><br> te 1 - we already got Hill, though some predictions have had him at fb, I'll leave him here as an h back tightend. Bennett is the &quot;1&quot;<br><br>ol 2 - Barney and late signee Kellen Heard. seriously, how many guys at Heard's size are very successful at dt?Daryl Gardener. <br><br> dt 2 - A. Dixon in August, Callahan Bright<br><br> de 0 we will get one, but RJ will defer, thus making it. 0 for this class - -but I think he defers due to grades til December of 2005. He will technically count towards the class following this one. <br><br>lb 2 - okay we've signed 6 in the past two years, yet most of you have 3 more for this class. I think you need a bit more separation between classes. 9 in 3 years is a bit much. E. Hodge (not letting another Hodge slip away), and Spencer Adkins<br><br><br><br> Db 3 -Bruce Johnson, and Randy and Kenneth Phillips. <br><br>I made it to 12 spots and think that it is a very realistic allocation for this class. And there is star talent within it as well. But, the staff knows better than to have such a small class and I'm sure they'll get creative to increase numbers a bit so as not to create such a disparity between classes sizewise. <br><br>Candidates to increase the size of this class:<br> Jennings leaving early (doubt it. he isn't first round, yet. There's Rolle, Corey Webster, Marlin Jackson, and even Bryant Mcfadden looked damn god), Jolla quitting (I hear so many bad things about his work ethic, but can he really get kicked off the team?Maybe his lack of work ethic shows a lack of caring and he'll quit?but I doubt he's gone, too, Roger M. , leaving early, lbs traditionally go higher when they stay in their senior season. <br><br> Tanard Davis, Robert Bergman, Curtis Justus, and Mark Gent. <br><br>Maybe 4 more spots?And with those. then<br><br><br> Antone Smith (of course)<br> Jeff Owens<br> Joe Joseph<br> Dee Morley<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffee><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=arizonacane>arizonacane</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>All ACC</span><br> Posts: 1590<br> <font color=#000000>(9/14/04 10:48:19 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=1>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> I think that Gent is on an academic scholarship. <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=canewarning01>CaneWarnin g01</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Heisman Candidate</span><br> Posts: 7366<br> <font color=#000000>(9/14/04 11:21:49 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=2>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> on the DL we will take RJF, Oghobasse, Bright <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffee><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=verbalassassin>VerbalAss assin</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Baby Cane</span><br> Posts: 1<br> <font color=#000000>(9/15/04 2:20:41 am)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=3>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> OL- We will land Youngblood out of Houston. <br><br>RB- Antone is a lock<br><br>WR- Hester won't come so forget about him. We don't want Moore. <br><br>We shall push for Turner and ROuse. I don't care if Rouse is a so called &quot;FSU&quot; lock. We shall come after him. <br><br>I am leaving more people out on the OL. Possibly Corey Z out of Kentucky. <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=primedime>primedime</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Bench Warmer</span><br> Posts: 159<br> <font color=#000000>(9/15/04 3:03:36 am)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=4>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> A. Smith is a must i think. if he doesn't sign this year it would be a huge loss. loseing B. Washington was already a huge loss. i also think we need WRs after the game against FSU. we need two atleast. <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffee><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=verbalassassin>VerbalAss assin</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Baby Cane</span><br> Posts: 9<br> <font color=#000000>(9/15/04 1:04:44 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=5>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> I have read interviews throughout the net. He'll be in. <br><br>Trust me. <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=diego>diego</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Starter</span><br> Posts: 561<br> <font color=#000000>(9/15/04 1:35:01 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=6>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> If Mark Gent has played a game, and I believe he has, then he is on a football scholarship. If I remember correctly he deferred till January the year he signed, but he's been on a football schollie since. <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffee><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=canechemist>canechemist</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Starter</span><br> Posts: 753<br> <font color=#000000>(9/15/04 6:19:37 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=7>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> i don't really know what kind of ship he has, but as long as he's not on an athletic ship for another sport then playing in a game doesn't matter. he could walk-on and play in a game - like kunz. <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=countrycane>CountryCane</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Baby Cane</span><br> Posts: 1<br> <font color=#000000>(9/16/04 9:14:44 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=8>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> I think M. Moore will be a great player at wr if he gets an offer <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffee><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=canebacker28>canebacker2 8</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Bench Warmer</span><br> Posts: 360<br> <font color=#000000>(9/16/04 10:03:01 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=9>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Mark Gent is a schollie player. </span><hr size=1> My ideal reasonable class would be . <br><br>QBShaw<br>RBSmith<br>FB C Collins<br>TE Bennett<br>WRDemetrius Byrd (sleeper kid from Central)<br>OLBarney<br>OLKerr (previous signee)<br>OLYoungblood<br>DTDixon (previous signee)<br>DTOwens<br>DTHeard (previous signee)<br>DTBright<br>DERJF* (deferred)<br>LBJ Hayes (if qualified)<br>LBE Hodge<br>LBQ Taylor<br>CBB Johnson<br>SK Phillips<br>SR Phillips<br><br>15 new schollies for 2005, 1 deferred to 2006 (RJF), and 3 previous signees finally enrolling. <br><br><br><br><br> <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=diego>diego</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Starter</span><br> Posts: 562<br> <font color=#000000>(9/16/04 10:05:50 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=10>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> The poster said that he was on an academic scholarship. My point was that it doesn't matter whether he was on an academic ship, once Gent played in a game, and I'm sure he has, he would count as a football scholarship. <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffee><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=dairylandcane>DairylandC ane</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Baby Cane</span><br> Posts: 8<br> <font color=#000000>(9/19/04 5:07:10 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=11>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> demetri stewart wont be left out of this class <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=ablecane>ABLECANE</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Baby Cane</span><br> Posts: 56<br> <font color=#000000>(9/21/04 2:26:00 am)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=12>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> Anyone still think we could land morley away from the crocs? <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffee><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=hegemon76>Hegemon76</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Bench Warmer</span><br> Posts: 200<br> <font color=#000000>(9/21/04 8:49:20 am)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=13>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> This is going to be a very good class anyway you look at it IMO. <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=playmaker4788>playmaker4 788</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>All ACC</span><br> Posts: 1643<br> <font color=#000000>(9/21/04 11:33:25 am)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=14>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> morleyfrom miami plus zook at fla = morley at miami book it <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffee><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=hardcorehurricane>Hardco reHurricane</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>Starter</span><br> Posts: 766<br> <font color=#000000>(9/21/04 5:15:45 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=15>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> Can we get Luther Brown from Cali?Or is that too much to ask to get two #1 LB's in a row? <p></p><i></i></td></tr><tr bgcolor=#ffffff><td nowrap width=20% valign=top align=left><span class=title><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/bmiami20779. showUserPublicProfile?gid=canemight>canemight</A></span><br><span class=usertitle>All ACC</span><br> Posts: 2260<br> <font color=#000000>(9/21/04 11:17:10 pm)</font><br><a href=http://mb10. theinsiders. com/fmiami20779frm15. showAddReplyScreenFromWeb?topicID=7751. topic&index=16>Reply</a> </td><td valign=top align=left class=m><span class=title> Re: predicted class (non-guru)</span><hr size=1> D. Stewart will be part of this class. <br>Bergman and Gent have been told to graduate this year. They won't be around next year. <br>They will probably put Justus on a medical hardship. That will open up 3 scholies. And attrition will probably claim 1-2 players. <p></p><i></i></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

[Savante]

I don't see anything about Beckum or Wilson that makes me think anything one way or the other...

[westbuck04]

just like our fans, they have no idea who is going to complete their recruiting class. beckum may or may not be a part of it, but those clowns have no idea either way(i guess the same could be said for us when try and predict the future, lol).

[Buckeye737]

Is it just the notion that Miami may not have room in their class for these guys?

[Hubbard]

Originally Posted by Savante

I don't see anything about Beckum or Wilson that makes me think anything one way or the other...

I didn't either, I am a bit confused stowfan.

[brutus2002]

IMO if we keep winning and they take official visits to OSU we are still in the running. I remember last year nobody thought we would get Nicol or Lyons and we snagged both of them. Have some confidence guys. I think Beckum is more impressed with us than Henderson is but we have a chance. FSU and Tennessee will likely drop 2 or 3 this year. IMO Miami is the team to beat for both kids.