Jon Beason

CAREER: Emerging star at linebacker…Could be the next in a long line of All-America linebackers at UM…Strong candidate for the Butkus Award in 2006…Talented, intelligent athlete who switched to linebacker in 2004 after spending the 2003 season as a medical redshirt fullback (was a fullback heading into that season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury)…In two seasons, has totals of 95 tackles (53 solo), 10 tackles for loss, four QB pressures, one sack and two passes defensed…Hard-hitting defender can play any of the three linebacker positions…Has deceptive strength for a player his size…Also a fine special teams player…Competed on the indoor track team in spring 2006, finishing 18th at the ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships with a season best mark of 6.50 meters in the long jump…Business management major.

2005 (SOPHOMORE): Starting weakside linebacker for the entire season…Played in all 12 games, making 10 starts (didn’t start two games when the team opened in nickel and dime defenses)…Ranked fifth on the team with 64 tackles (44 solo), adding six tackles for loss, one pass breakup and four QB pressures…Registered 11 tackles on special teams…Made 11 tackles (six solo, two for losses) in the season opener at Florida State…Played on 57 snaps at Clemson, adding four tackles…Made five tackles vs. Colorado…Did not start vs. South Florida when the team opened in dime defense and played sparingly (USF used multiple wide receivers most of the game). Made just two tackles…Tallied two assisted tackles and two QB pressures vs. Duke…Did not start in a nickel defense at Duke and played only 11 snaps in a 34-3 victory, making two solo tackles and one tackle for loss…Made seven tackles vs. North Carolina, then added four tackles and one QB pressure in the upset over Virginia Tech…Made nine tackles (eight solo) on 56 snaps at Wake Forest…Registered three tackles in the Georgia Tech game, then six tackles vs. Virginia…Finished the year with 10 tackles (eight solo, two for loss) in the Peach Bowl vs. Louisiana State.

2004 (FRESHMAN): Played in all 12 games, taking over as the starting strongside linebacker for the final month of the regular season…Also played middle linebacker earlier in the year…Totaled 29 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and one pass breakup…In the season opener vs. FSU, played on special teams and made one solo tackle…The next week vs. Louisiana Tech, did not start but played extensively at middle linebacker in place of an injured Leon Williams, making seven tackles…In a Thursday night game at Houston, did not start but played as the primary middle linebacker, making five tackles, including two for loss…Saw limited action the next four games (Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina State and North Carolina)…Did not start in a nickel defense vs. Clemson but played as primary strongside linebacker, making one tackle…Made his first collegiate start at Virginia and recorded a then-career-high ninetackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one pass breakup…Started vs. Wake Forest but did not make any tackles…Started at strongside linebacker vs. Virginia Tech and made one tackle…In the Peach Bowl vs. Florida, played as a reserve, making one assist.

2003 (REDSHIRT): Played two games at fullback (Louisiana Tech and Florida) before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury…Carried one time for three yards…Received a medical redshirt after the season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Chaminade-Madonna Prep…Tough competitor who impressed coaches with his consistent intensity throughout his high school career…Played linebacker, strong safety and fullback in high school…Had tremendous range, showing the ability to make plays from sideline to sideline…Consistently dominated opponents in run support, but also showed ability to be effective in pass coverage…Also a starting forward on the basketball team, helping lead his team to the finals of the state playoffs in 2002…As a senior, rushed for 811 yards and 12 touchdowns at fullback, and made 75 tackles and had five pass interceptions on defense…Rated All-American, the No. 35 defensive back in the nation and the No. 30 player in Florida by Allen Wallace’s SuperPrep…Rated the nation’s No. 6 linebacker by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report…The No. 70 player in Florida on the Orlando Sentinel Florida Top 100…Third Team selection on the Fox Sports Net All-South Team…Chose Miami over Florida State, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana State and Georgia…Coached by Mark Guandola.

JON BEASON’S CAREER STATISTICS

Additional statistics: 1 rush for 3 yards in 2003; 3 kickoff returns for 32 yards in 2004