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Small stature doesn't prevent SMU receiver Cole Beasley from standing tall
By KATE HAIROPOULOS Staff Writer
khairopoulos@dallasnews.com
Published: 25 November 2011 08:59 PM
UNIVERSITY PARK — SMU senior slot receiver Cole Beasley will — good-naturedly — bust his teammates’ and coaches’ chops for just about anything.
To receivers coach Jeff Reinebold, the ribbing is mostly predictable.
“Getting the ball,” Beasley said. “I’m always talking about getting the ball more.”
Consider it a symptom of
Beasley’s hyper-competitiveness, which is part of what’s put the Little Elm product in the top three on SMU’s career lists for catches (241) and receiving yards (2,815). At 5-9, 175 pounds, Beasley is used to surpassing expectations.
“He looks in the mirror … and he doesn’t see a rug rat, he sees a player,” Reinebold said. “That’s why he can go out there and compete. He’s just going to.”
Beasley leads Conference USA in receptions per game (7.2) and is second in yards receiving per game (89.6).
Beasley has taken advantage of
playing the slot in SMU’s Run and Shoot, which allows smaller players to thrive. He’s
deceivingly athletic, however, with the
quickness and intelligence to make fast decisions, run in traffic and get in and out of small windows of space, Reinebold said.
Beasley, despite his size, has been able to
dunk a basketball since he was a freshman in high school, where he played quarterback under his father, Mike Beasley.
Cole, though, said he knew if he wanted to play in college, he’d have to switch positions because of his size. His arrival at SMU coincided with that of coach June Jones and the Run and Shoot. Beasley’s history of studying defenses as a
coach’s son helped him quickly pick up the complicated offense and earn a starting spot immediately.
SMU added a new wrinkle in recent weeks, with Beasley in the “Wildcat,” in which he takes direct snaps. The most successful instance resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run in the Nov. 12 loss to Navy.
Jones said he believes Beasley will have the opportunity going forward to open NFL scouts’ eyes, particularly those whose teams use offenses in which smaller receivers, such as New England’s Wes Welker, can thrive. Beasley likes to watch Welker because of their similarities.
“Really, for me,” Beasley said, “It’s all about getting a chance.”
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/col...nding-tall.ece