Sam Webb: Recruiting

U-M has 'very big chance' of landing 'Big Tex' Jatashun Beachum

Coaches are often slaves to convention when it comes to slotting their players into positions. They are sometimes so confined by well-established positional paradigms that their ability to think outside the box is hindered. That, however, is exactly what the coaching staff at Dallas A. Maceo High had to do when they came across jumbo athlete Jatashun Beachum.

Nicknamed "Big Tex," the 6-foot-2, 280-pounder began his high school career on the offensive line. Soon, though, his coaches realized that his exceptional blend of size and speed would be better utilized elsewhere. His 4.65 time in the 40 and strong arm prompted a move to quarterback. It was a position switch that likely seemed ridiculous to his opponents until they actually saw him perform.

Beachum proved to be a dynamic running threat out of the backfield, flashing both power and elusiveness. In addition, he was no slouch as a passer. That dual-threat ability earned him district newcomer of the year honors following his sophomore season. Despite missing four games during his junior campaign, he garnered even more postseason recognition, this time earning all-district honors.

"I know it seems odd for a quarterback to weigh nearly 300 pounds, but that is what makes Beachum so special," said Scout.com Midland regional manager Baron Flenory. "With offensive lineman size, Beachum moves like a running back. He is being recruited at everything from quarterback, to running back, to defensive tackle."

Flenory said Beachum's rare size and speed combination makes him appear to be a future NFL star and, at the very least, a Scout.com four-star prospect.

Because defense is Big Tex's likely destination on the next level, Scout.com rates him as the No. 28 defensive tackle in the country. As a result of that common projection, A Maceo Smith coach Elzie Barnett expanded Beachum's role on the defensive front as a senior.

"His quickness and his strength are incredible," Barnett said. "So is his ability to get off blocks and his ability to split the double teams. The funny thing about it is, I actually thought he played better at defensive end as a space player than he did as a two-technique defensive tackle."

Ah, the possibilities. Such versatility would surely demand the attention of college coaches from across the country, but that wasn't case early in Beachum's junior year. Questions about his conditioning combined with the broken ankle he suffered late in the season restricted the expected flow of scholarship offers. However, when Barnett compiled the junior footage of his star pupil, and Beachum subsequently showed in the spring that he was fully recovered from his ankle injury, the lid blew off of his recruitment.

Said Flenory, "The bottom line is, if he works hard and loses that bad weight, the sky is the limit for Big Tex."

Numerous college coaches agreed. Florida, Oklahoma, Florida State, Tennessee, Miami, Oregon, Arkansas and host of others had extended scholarships by the end of Beachum's junior year. There wasn't a real consensus among those schools regarding which position he would play, but no advantage was gained by any of them since where he lines up just isn't a major concern of his.

"I will play anything," he said confidently to Scout.com. "I just love to play the game of football. Some teams are wanting me to play defensive end or defensive tackle and others like me at running back or quarterback. I honestly don't know what I like more. I love tackling and blowing people up for sure, but I also like running over people or shaking them when I get the chance. I mostly play quarterback for my team because that's where coach needs me, but when we get up he will let me play some running back. When we need stops on defense I play all over the defensive line. I believe that whatever I play, I know I am going to be good at it, and I know I am going to have fun playing it. So put me wherever. I don't care. I'll do whatever any coach needs me to do."

In early October, Beachum settled on doing whatever one coach needed him to do -- Arkansas' Bobby Petrino. That commitment didn't last long, though, because almost as soon as the pledge was given, a new suitor emerged as a strong challenger.

"It's Arkansas and Michigan," stated Beachum. "Ha ha -- the Big M baby!"

The Wolverines covet the versatile youngster primarily as a defensive lineman, but he could also see time as a short-yardage quarterback. His jovial reaction to mention of the Maize and Blue is a sign that the glow from receiving his Michigan offer last month still hasn't worn off.

"Aw, man, I was so happy," the Dallas native recalled. "Once I got the call I ran to the living room and told my brothers and mom. They were happier than I was. It was great. I'm happy, man. I was like, let's turn around and de-commit."

The excitable youngster resisted the urge to act capriciously, opting instead for the more patient approach of first setting up a visit. He will be an Ann Arbor this weekend for the annual clash with Ohio State.

"(The Wolverines) have a very big chance," Beachum said regarding Michigan's odds of landing him. "From one through 10, they're up to nine right now. You never know what can happen. I could de-commit right now and just commit to Michigan, but I'm going to wait and see how the campus (visit) and everything goes when I get up there."

Beachum has already built a strong rapport over the phone with a few of the Michigan coaches, but he is anxious to meet them face to face and get an in-person account of just what U-M has to offer.

"The coaches I talked to, they're cool," he said. "All of them are cool. I want to get up there and see the atmosphere and see if it is where I feel comfortable ."

Some of that comfort is contingent upon how he connects with the players. One Wolverine in particular could have a major impact.

"'Shoelaces' is a phenomenon for the kids down here," Coach Barnett said of Michigan freshman quarterback Denard Robinson. "My freshman quarterback says he is going to be the next Shoelaces. We all watch Michigan when they're on TV. One, we're rooting for Shoelaces, and two, we're really trying to see what's going to happen with Michigan football."

One factor not likely to play as a prominent role in Beachum's choice is distance from home. It's a topic that he has already discussed at length with his mother.

"She wants me to go where I feel better at," he explained. "She pushed me to go far. When I told her I was going to Arkansas, she was like, 'that's nice,' and, 'that's good.' That's where she's from. If I go out farther, it is going to make me become a man and all that. Michigan would be a good spot."

Whether it's THE spot is something the four-star prospect won't take long to determine once he returns home from the Great Lakes State.

"Michigan will be the last (visit)," Beachum reported. "I'll probably (make a decision) two weeks or a week after."

Said Barnett: "Jatashun is one of those kids that is smart enough to know, 'this is a fit for me,' or 'that's not a fit.' Michigan is doing a hell of a job recruiting him, so it is making it easier for him."

Sam Webb is managing editor of GoBlueWolverine.com and co-host of the "Michigan Insider" morning show weekdays on Sports Talk 1050 WTKA.