FAYETTEVILLE — It’s no secret Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino cherishes a big back to pound on tired defenses.
In Jatashun Beachum, Petrino and the Razorbacks have an incoming freshman who might redefine the role of a jumbo back before long - if he can keep his weight in check.
Beachum’s athleticism as a 6-1, 270-pound senior at A. Maceo Smith High School in Dallas was undeniable. He played point guard in basketball and quarterback on the football team well enough to draw scholarship offers from coast to coast, including Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Oregon and Kansas State, to play running back, tight end and defensive tackle.
“His video was very impressive because he was such a big kid, but at the same time, he had some speed and quickness that somebody 270-plus pounds isn’t supposed to have,” Arkansas running backs coach Tim Horton said.
The issue with Beachum,whose nickname is “Big Tex,” isn’t his agility, it’s his fluctuating weight.
“He’ll eat all day if you let him,” said Elzie Barnett, his high school coach.
“If you look at his face and shoulders, he has the potential to be a nice 240, 245 pounds.The deal with him, his sophomore and junior years he was eating his way through high school. We’d get him down to 270-275, then three weeks later he’s 290. Because he likes food.”
Beachum agreed he’s a food lover, admitting he shot all the way to 313 pounds during the recruiting process. He said he trimmed down to 290 by the time he reported at Arkansas the last week of June and that he was at 285 pounds by mid-July.
“Even when I was 313, I still could do whatever,” Beachum said. “Now I’m way better than I was. I’m faster and stronger.”
The Hogs recruited Beachum as an athlete, but he appears to be headed toward fullback in an Arkansas backfield filled with quality tailbacks.
“His first stop with us is going to be as a fullback,” Horton said.
“The thing that excites you about him is he’s a big kid and a raw athlete who can change directions.”
Barnett said he realized Beachum would be a big-time recruit during his sophomore year when he made a play against traditional rival South Oak Cliff, one of the best teams in the district.
“We had a busted play, and Shun broke contain and an outside linebacker, the strong safety, the free safety and the cornerback all had angles on him, but he outran them all for a touchdown,” Barnett said.
The outgoing Beachum said he’s quickly building a rapport with his teammates, and that Broderick Green, also a big back at 250 pounds, has taken him under his wing.
“Everything’s going good at running back,” Beachum said. “Me and Green are doing drills together, and he’s helping me out.”
Applying himself toward proper eating and a weight loss regimen at Arkansas could be a big help as Beachum prepares for his first campaign in the SEC.
“I’m doing extra work to lose weight, like boxing lessons,” he said. “I’m trying to be dedicated.”
Beachum said his body is adjusting to having four smaller meals a day, as opposed to one or two huge meals.
Of course he’s had to cut back on some of his favorite foods, and some of his bad habits.
Barnett described heading to the high school gym to watch a basketball game when he was coaching in middle school, and seeing Beachum coming to the gym with a loaded plastic foam to-go box from a nearby convenience store.
“It’s 30 minutes before the game and here comes Shun in with a 24-piece hot wings from the Texaco,” Barnett said. “I said, ‘Shun, you can’t eat that right before the game,’ and he said, ‘Watch me.’
“He sat right there in the bleachers and he ate all that food.”
Said Beachum, “I remember, it was hot wings, fries and juice. I said, ‘Watch me do this, Coach.’ I was full, but I was still out there doing my thing.”
Barnett, whose son, Chris, is a highly recruited senior tight end, will tease Beachum about his eating, but he’s also high on his prospects.
“He’s interesting,” Barnett said. “If he were my son and I had him his entire life and I could train him and everything, I’m telling you he could be a pro.
“He’s tough as hell, and he’s not afraid of anything. You tell him to play defensive line and he’d do it. He did everything we asked him to do. Very seldom do you find that attitude in a star.”
Beachum said his goal as a freshman is to “just get a few carries, get adjusted, have a good season. Just feed me the ball a little.”
But don’t feed him the hot wings.
Jatashun Beachum at a glance POSITION Athlete/fullback HIGH SCHOOL Dallas A. Maceo Smith HEIGHT 6-1 WEIGHT 285 pounds 40-YARD DASH 4.65 seconds NOTEWORTHY Former offensive lineman played rare combination of quarterback and defensive line in prep ranks. ... His first name is pronounced Jade-a-shaun, but he goes by “Big Tex.” ... District newcomer of the year as a sophomore quarterback. ... Rated No. 44 athlete in the nation by Rivals.com and recruited to play running back, defensive tackle, tight end and quarterback by array of major colleges. ... Rated No. 34 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com. ... Chose Arkansas over large number of schools, including Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami, Tennessee, Florida State and Nebraska. ... His mother, Treophia Flowers, is a graduate of Little Rock Central.
Sports, Pages 15 on 07/20/2010