The L.C. Bird High School football faithful have another season of watching the greatest recruit in school history: defensive and offensive lineman Hakeem Beamon.
Beamon has offers from Alabama, Ohio State, South Carolina, UVA and Arkansas, among many others. The rising senior was originally committed to North Carolina, but withdrew his verbal agreement a couple of weeks after offers came from the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes.
At 6-4, 250 pounds, Beamon has blossomed into a world-class athlete. Depending on which recruiting site one reads, he’s typically rated four stars and is arguably pushing five stars.
“He is a big kid that can really run,” coach Troy Taylor saod. “He has great feet and has good body control for a kid his size.”
Taylor said Beamon is the perhaps the biggest college recruit that L.C. Bird has had in its rich history, and the most highly sought after. While he’s got an impressive list of offers, the school isn’t a stranger to this level of success. L.C. Bird grad and defensive back Jalen Elliott is at Notre Dame and safety Anthony Harris is a UVA grad playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
Beamon is excellent on the field and in the classroom, and he has realized his position as a role model even though he’s just 17 years old.
On his Twitter account, @Hakeem_Beamon, he tweeted: “It’s crazy because I just realized a lot of younger people really look up to me in the 804 and I’m only 17.”
“It means the world to me,” he said. “Growing up, I was fortunate to have good role models … I will graduate, do a some community service events and probably charity to set a good example,” he said.
As a senior on a Skyhawks team that’s looking to rebound from a 7-4 record in 2017, his leadership and example will be counted on.
Payoute recruit?
A new name that fans are likely to see flying around Twitter with new offers is Jaden Payoute. The rising senior was featured in last week’s Village News for his role in winning the 4×100 national race at the Penn Relays.
“Winning the race felt like we were on top of the world,” he said.
Track speed on the football field can be a scary thing for opposing offenses and defenses. Campbell University, a Division I school in the FCS, was the first to offer him a scholarship.
“Getting my first offer lifted so much pressure off my shoulders knowing that I am a step closer to reaching my dream of playing college football,” Payoute said.
These two athletes are just the tip of the iceberg for L.C. Bird next season as they look to head back to the promised land.
