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I was able to catch up with former University of Miami wide receiver Kevin Beard ('99-'03), who is the receivers coach at University School and a coach on the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team. We discussed the positives of 7-on-7 football, talked about some breakout players, and also spoke about a couple of Hurricanes-related topics.
Q: There’s always been criticism of the 7-on-7 circuit with people saying it’s not real football. What would you say are the positives that come from it?
Beard: I think that’s people from the outside that really don’t have a part in it and don’t understand the magnitude of it and what it does for these kids. Mike Rumph is one of my good friends that I went to college with and Tarvarus McFadden is with him at American Heritage. He made a note to me that Tarvarus has changed from day and night since after football season basically because 7-on-7 has given him so much confidence. Going against the top guys every day and taking reps against 4-star, 5-star, division-1 prospects is huge. Kids get to meet guys that are on the same path they are on and they know that the next guy understands how they’re feeling. You’re never going to get away from people that aren’t for it because that’s just the nature of the beast. You’re going to have people against something and people for something. Another point is a lot of people use the 7-on-7 team to steer the kids from the high school they’re at to come play for them and a lot of coaches feel like they don’t want their guys around other guys because they’re feel like they’re gonna recruit them so that’s another stigma that goes around in the process of it. Being around it for the last four years, we don’t encourage that type of behavior because we know the type of stigma that comes with it, but everybody doesn’t operate the way we do at South Florida Express so that’s why we feel like if we do things the way that’s best for the kids, it will ultimately be the best for their schools.
Q: Who are some guys you really saw take the next step with you over the past few months?
Beard: Da’Vante Phillips is a guy that a lot of people raved about how good he was and being at Central where they run the ball predominantly, he doesn't really get too many opportunities to show how good he is. He got a chance to really showcase his ability with us. Kadeem Goulbourne from Cypress Bay, Kenny Rawles, and Jewison Dawkins from Plantation all came out and competed and made the Pro team and they learned a lot and got better. When they actually went back to their high schools and participated against the DBs at their school and colleges came out, they were doing their thing. Next thing you know, I hear Tennessee and South Carolina and all these schools are recruiting these guys and Boston College, Bowling Green are offering them. We’re talking about guys who didn't have anything before and that’s a positive. Nobody is here to take credit or anything, but you had a chance to come here and practice against the best and learn technique and fundamentals, then went back to your high school and applied those things so it was much easier for them and that’s the result of it. They’re getting offers from it and that’s their dream.
Q: Talk about Sam Bruce and what separates him at his young age.
Beard: Oh man, special. I knew he was special when he came in. That whole being raw and talented is so good, but when you understand the game like us at University School, we know that it’s not all about talent and talent is overrated when it boils down to mental toughness and how you play the game mentally and that’s one of the things we’re working on really hard with him and he’s been up to the challenge. The thing he’s really working on now is not worrying about who’s in front of him, but to challenge himself because he’s his only challenge. Once he gets that understood and holds himself to that standard, the sky is the limit for him.
Q: We had talked about Ermon Lane a few months back and one of the things you mentioned with him was that you would focusing on the little things with him. Do you feel like he made strides with that?
Beard: Definitely, definitely. One of the things I talk with the kids about is that I get on them about the little things, and then I point out the big things. What I’m trying to do is get them to self-coach themselves and recognize their own mistakes. Once they get to that level that’s when they can realize when they know better, they do better. Once I give them that look and they’re running over to the sidelines, they’re already like ‘I know, I know.’ They’ll give me what the problem was and once I see that out of them, that’s when I know they’re doing their job.
Q: Talk about a couple of South Florida Express corners, Chris Lammons and Tyrek Cole.
Beard: Chris Lammons is one of those kids who plays quarterback so he has the instincts and knows what an offense is trying to do because he has the mind of a quarterback. Once he gets on defense, he knows how to break things down before it happens so he’s a very instinctive player that is mastering his technique and fundamentals. He has that “it” that a coach can’t teach. Tyrek Cole can be every bit of Tracy Howard coming out of Miramar. I really feel like Miramar does a great job with their corners and as you can see, they keep spitting them out and he’s another guy who’s just young and has a bright future ahead of him. He plays the game with confidence and the more he goes against the top-notch talent and continues to play with confidence, the sky is the limit for him.
Q: Who would you say was the best player you guys faced during the season?
Beard: I would have to say Travis Rudolph. He ended up playing with us over the weekend and that’s one of the reasons he played for us is because he played for the South Florida Blur and he was a one-man wrecking show. He played both sides of the ball and watching him it’s like ‘wow, whatever college gets you has a special kid.’ To find out he’s Devin Hester’s cousin, that just tells you the type of kid and type of athlete he is. That’s one guy that stood out. Isaiah Ford from Jacksonville is committed to Louisville is special. He plans on playing basketball and football and he’s a special talent.
Q: Something we spoke about a few months back was how Miami didn't have their typical amount of South Florida kids in last year’s class. Do you see any differences in the way they’ve approached this class?
Beard: Oh most definitely, and you would not find someone as happy as me about it. I’m so happy that they’re hitting their backyard hard and the momentum is rising as kids continue to commit. What I kind of notice is that there’s a lot of big-time prospects in South Florida that tend to wait it out since it’s more exciting to put the hats on the table and all that type of stuff and the one thing I applaud Coach Golden and the staff for doing is they don’t have the luxury of waiting because if they don’t get you then they’re in a hole and they’re stuck. So what they’re doing right now is going after guys in their backyard who they feel can play for them and they can develop and want to be a part of the U family. What’s gonna happen is once those guys end up going to the school and producing and getting developed and they start winning, things will begin to change. Then those guys that want to wait a while will look at the situation and say ‘I don’t have time to wait because I really do want to go to Miami and I don’t want to get left behind.’ The main thing with Miami is they just have to win, bottom-line. That will answer all these questions out there about Coach Golden and his staff. One thing I understand is that it’s all about the process, but I’m very excited about what’s going on right now. It looks really good down there.
Q: Back in 2001, you had some drops against Penn State but were able to rebound for a solid season and had a great performance in the National Championship game. What kind of advice would you give to a guy like Phillip Dorsett, who had some key drops on a nationally televised game against Notre Dame?
Beard: The main thing that I would do is go back and pay attention to the details because that’s what it boils down to. Go back to the fundamentals and really master the little things because once you master the little things, the big things will come easy. Once you catch the ball, making moves on people and making them miss is a big deal for a lot of player. But for a lot of playmakers, catching the ball and looking it in is big. You get so busy thinking about the yards after the catch that you mess around and miss out on the catch. Instead of worrying about the 60-yard bomb, worry about getting the 20-yard catch and then worry about the bomb after. That would help anybody, from Phillip Dorsett to a high school guy, so that’s the type of stuff I like to concentrate on.
Q: There’s always been criticism of the 7-on-7 circuit with people saying it’s not real football. What would you say are the positives that come from it?
Beard: I think that’s people from the outside that really don’t have a part in it and don’t understand the magnitude of it and what it does for these kids. Mike Rumph is one of my good friends that I went to college with and Tarvarus McFadden is with him at American Heritage. He made a note to me that Tarvarus has changed from day and night since after football season basically because 7-on-7 has given him so much confidence. Going against the top guys every day and taking reps against 4-star, 5-star, division-1 prospects is huge. Kids get to meet guys that are on the same path they are on and they know that the next guy understands how they’re feeling. You’re never going to get away from people that aren’t for it because that’s just the nature of the beast. You’re going to have people against something and people for something. Another point is a lot of people use the 7-on-7 team to steer the kids from the high school they’re at to come play for them and a lot of coaches feel like they don’t want their guys around other guys because they’re feel like they’re gonna recruit them so that’s another stigma that goes around in the process of it. Being around it for the last four years, we don’t encourage that type of behavior because we know the type of stigma that comes with it, but everybody doesn’t operate the way we do at South Florida Express so that’s why we feel like if we do things the way that’s best for the kids, it will ultimately be the best for their schools.
Q: Who are some guys you really saw take the next step with you over the past few months?
Beard: Da’Vante Phillips is a guy that a lot of people raved about how good he was and being at Central where they run the ball predominantly, he doesn't really get too many opportunities to show how good he is. He got a chance to really showcase his ability with us. Kadeem Goulbourne from Cypress Bay, Kenny Rawles, and Jewison Dawkins from Plantation all came out and competed and made the Pro team and they learned a lot and got better. When they actually went back to their high schools and participated against the DBs at their school and colleges came out, they were doing their thing. Next thing you know, I hear Tennessee and South Carolina and all these schools are recruiting these guys and Boston College, Bowling Green are offering them. We’re talking about guys who didn't have anything before and that’s a positive. Nobody is here to take credit or anything, but you had a chance to come here and practice against the best and learn technique and fundamentals, then went back to your high school and applied those things so it was much easier for them and that’s the result of it. They’re getting offers from it and that’s their dream.
Q: Talk about Sam Bruce and what separates him at his young age.
Beard: Oh man, special. I knew he was special when he came in. That whole being raw and talented is so good, but when you understand the game like us at University School, we know that it’s not all about talent and talent is overrated when it boils down to mental toughness and how you play the game mentally and that’s one of the things we’re working on really hard with him and he’s been up to the challenge. The thing he’s really working on now is not worrying about who’s in front of him, but to challenge himself because he’s his only challenge. Once he gets that understood and holds himself to that standard, the sky is the limit for him.
Q: We had talked about Ermon Lane a few months back and one of the things you mentioned with him was that you would focusing on the little things with him. Do you feel like he made strides with that?
Beard: Definitely, definitely. One of the things I talk with the kids about is that I get on them about the little things, and then I point out the big things. What I’m trying to do is get them to self-coach themselves and recognize their own mistakes. Once they get to that level that’s when they can realize when they know better, they do better. Once I give them that look and they’re running over to the sidelines, they’re already like ‘I know, I know.’ They’ll give me what the problem was and once I see that out of them, that’s when I know they’re doing their job.
Q: Talk about a couple of South Florida Express corners, Chris Lammons and Tyrek Cole.
Beard: Chris Lammons is one of those kids who plays quarterback so he has the instincts and knows what an offense is trying to do because he has the mind of a quarterback. Once he gets on defense, he knows how to break things down before it happens so he’s a very instinctive player that is mastering his technique and fundamentals. He has that “it” that a coach can’t teach. Tyrek Cole can be every bit of Tracy Howard coming out of Miramar. I really feel like Miramar does a great job with their corners and as you can see, they keep spitting them out and he’s another guy who’s just young and has a bright future ahead of him. He plays the game with confidence and the more he goes against the top-notch talent and continues to play with confidence, the sky is the limit for him.
Q: Who would you say was the best player you guys faced during the season?
Beard: I would have to say Travis Rudolph. He ended up playing with us over the weekend and that’s one of the reasons he played for us is because he played for the South Florida Blur and he was a one-man wrecking show. He played both sides of the ball and watching him it’s like ‘wow, whatever college gets you has a special kid.’ To find out he’s Devin Hester’s cousin, that just tells you the type of kid and type of athlete he is. That’s one guy that stood out. Isaiah Ford from Jacksonville is committed to Louisville is special. He plans on playing basketball and football and he’s a special talent.
Q: Something we spoke about a few months back was how Miami didn't have their typical amount of South Florida kids in last year’s class. Do you see any differences in the way they’ve approached this class?
Beard: Oh most definitely, and you would not find someone as happy as me about it. I’m so happy that they’re hitting their backyard hard and the momentum is rising as kids continue to commit. What I kind of notice is that there’s a lot of big-time prospects in South Florida that tend to wait it out since it’s more exciting to put the hats on the table and all that type of stuff and the one thing I applaud Coach Golden and the staff for doing is they don’t have the luxury of waiting because if they don’t get you then they’re in a hole and they’re stuck. So what they’re doing right now is going after guys in their backyard who they feel can play for them and they can develop and want to be a part of the U family. What’s gonna happen is once those guys end up going to the school and producing and getting developed and they start winning, things will begin to change. Then those guys that want to wait a while will look at the situation and say ‘I don’t have time to wait because I really do want to go to Miami and I don’t want to get left behind.’ The main thing with Miami is they just have to win, bottom-line. That will answer all these questions out there about Coach Golden and his staff. One thing I understand is that it’s all about the process, but I’m very excited about what’s going on right now. It looks really good down there.
Q: Back in 2001, you had some drops against Penn State but were able to rebound for a solid season and had a great performance in the National Championship game. What kind of advice would you give to a guy like Phillip Dorsett, who had some key drops on a nationally televised game against Notre Dame?
Beard: The main thing that I would do is go back and pay attention to the details because that’s what it boils down to. Go back to the fundamentals and really master the little things because once you master the little things, the big things will come easy. Once you catch the ball, making moves on people and making them miss is a big deal for a lot of player. But for a lot of playmakers, catching the ball and looking it in is big. You get so busy thinking about the yards after the catch that you mess around and miss out on the catch. Instead of worrying about the 60-yard bomb, worry about getting the 20-yard catch and then worry about the bomb after. That would help anybody, from Phillip Dorsett to a high school guy, so that’s the type of stuff I like to concentrate on.
