|
Former ETSU player will join Catamounts
Western Carolina Coach Kent Briggs has announced the addition of former Crest High standout and East Tennessee State defensive end Lamar Beam to the Catamount football team.
The Shelby senior played three seasons with the Buccaneers and will be eligible to play for the Cats this fall as ETSU dropped its football program after the 2003 season.
Beam (6-3, 240) played in 10 games, starting one, for the Bucs last year. Of his 23 tackles, six were for loses.
As a sophomore, Beam led ETSU with six sacks, which ranked 10th in the Southern Conference, and 12 tackles for losses. He ended that season with 73 tackles, with an interception, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
As a redshirt freshman, Beam started all 11 games for the Bucs and ranked second on the team with seven tackles for losses.
Beam was the defensive lineman of the year and most valuable player as a senior at Crest as he earned all-conference honors. He registered 37 solo tackles, 18 quarterback hurries, nine sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Briggs has been pleased with what he has seen the first week of practice.
“We are working really hard,” he said. “We are in the grind of two-a-day practices, which is when the true character of a team starts to develop. I am proud of our effort and enthusiasm. I believe we have gotten better every day. The key is for us to have the attitude and focus over the next set of practices so we continue to move forward.”
Running back Nicholas Wishart has had a good preseason camp, according to Briggs. Lamont Reid has been limited due to an injury. The coach said the quarterbacks and receivers have practiced well.
“I think the defense has practiced with a lot of intensity and team spirit, which is what they need to fill the voids left by the likes of All-SoCon players Rod Dunlap, Nick McNeil and Michale Spicer,” Briggs said. “Lamar Barnes and Ricky Rainey have done a good job leading the linebacking corps. The defensive front has been solidified with newcomers Corey Ellison and Darren Curtis.”
|
