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Beckum in a better position
By JEFF POTRYKUS
jpotrykus@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 4, 2006
Madison - Travis Beckum's freshman statistics line did not spark images of future All-American honors:
Ten games played, mostly on special teams; one solo tackle; one assisted tackle; and one position switch from linebacker to defensive end.
Overall, Beckum had little impact on the University of Wisconsin football program in 2005.
If his performance in his first game at tight end is an accurate barometer, the former prep All-American at Oak Creek High School has found a position at which he can make a significant contribution.
"I feel good at tight end," Beckum said. "I have a lot of work to do. But I think I've found a home."
Beckum led UW's receivers in catches (three) and receiving yards (49) in the Badgers' 35-14 victory over Bowling Green on Saturday. He had catches of 16, 19 and 14 yards and picked up a first down each time.
"He has shown the ability since we moved him that he is very athletic and can catch the football," said UW coach Bret Bielema, who moved Beckum to tight end after the Capital One Bowl. "I like what he did after the catch as well on two of those throws. But Travis is just beginning to scratch the surface on how good he can be.
"He understands where we want him to be in the passing game because he likes the passing game. What we need him to do is be a complete football player."
That means blocking as well as receiving.
At this point, Beckum is more advanced in the latter area, yet even that part of his game remains in the formative stage.
"Travis is still really, really raw," quarterback John Stocco said. "Obviously he hasn't played tight end for very long. But he is just an amazing athlete."
He appears to possess more overall athletic ability than former UW tight end Owen Daniels, who was selected by Houston in the fourth round of the NFL draft last spring and has worked his way into the starting lineup.
Beckum, 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, was timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash before coming to UW. That's faster than Daniels and puts him in the same neighborhood as current UW wide receiver Paul Hubbard, who ran on the Badgers' 400-meter relay team that qualified for the NCAA national meet in the spring of 2004.
"You've got Hubbard, and Travis is right up there," Stocco said. "He is that fast and he really has a knack for getting open."
And as Daniels did from 2003 through last season, Beckum should be able to stretch the field vertically and cause match-up problems for safeties and especially linebackers.
"He is a guy who can definitely do some special things for us," Stocco said.
Athletically, Beckum doesn't appear to have any limitations.
What he must do is become more disciplined in his route running and add strength so he can be at a minimum an effective blocker. To his credit, Beckum acknowledged he must study his playbook at home and even hold a mini walk-through to go over his routes.
Offensive coordinator Paul Chryst has quietly but relentlessly stressed to Beckum the need to run his routes at the prescribed depth: not 1 yard too deep and not 1 yard too shallow.
"It is the little things that add up to the big things in the long run," Beckum said. "He has helped a lot. He lets me know that if the quarterback is going to throw to me then I have to get the job done."
To aid his blocking, Beckum hopes to eventually add 10 to 15 pounds to push his weight into the 235-pound range.
"I have to eat right and drink enough fluids and hit the weights hard," he said.
As early as last spring, tight ends coach Bob Bostad suggested Beckum could one day become an integral part of any game plan.
With each compliment, however, the UW coaches stress much work remains and remind that Beckum is far from a polished tight end.
"It all depends on how hard I want it," Beckum said. "Last year I played in a couple games (on defense) but I didn't have an impact.
"(Saturday) was shocking at first, just to know that it was the first game and I caught a pass. It's exciting and I'm looking forward to the rest of the year."