[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."