Royal Purple

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News

Media Credit: File photo Beaver

The dream was the same for UW-Whitewater running back Justin Beaver as it was for thousands of other kids who grew up loving the sport of football. Most of the dreams died long ago, and some may have figured Beaver's would eventually be extinguished as well.

The thing is, he hasn't let the dream go. Similar to his knack for chugging through the first hit of opposing defenses, Beaver has not let his goal die easily. He has always held on to the hope of getting a chance at football's highest level, the National Football League.

Now, the chance he's wanted is his to win. On March 5 in Madison, with NFL scouts and representatives watching, Beaver will put his best on the artificial turf in UW-Madison's McClain Center for a combine-style workout, hoping to leave with the opportunity he's waited for since his days growing up in the 1,145-person town of Palmyra.

"I'm just trying to show [teams] I can be a playmaker in the NFL, and show that I can make plays wherever I am, as long as I'm on the field," Beaver said.

Brad Arnett, who has trained Beaver since the summer of 2005, thinks its just going to be a matter of what team is willing to select him.

"As far as across the board, Justin has what it takes," Arnett said. "It's just going to take someone to give him an opportunity."

However, Beaver will have to do more than just show up in Madison to reach the NFL. The professional combine workout he will be put through is an intense, physically demanding process, including tests in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle run. Just a few tenths of a second or a few extra inches can separate football's next success story from the daily grind of nine-to-five.

"That's kind of the day where you can catch scouts' eyes," Beaver said. "I'm basically putting everything I [have] got into that day. I'm training as hard as I can for that one day and hopefully good things will happen."

To help bring his testing numbers into the company of some of the world's elite athletes, Beaver literally has gone to train at the next level. NX Level, a Waukesha-based athletic performance center, is where Beaver has gone to improve his skills since the summer of 2005.

"[Arnett] came here for a few months and helped [the football team] train," Beaver said. "I loved his training and I loved his enthusiasm. Ever since then, I said that it would be a place for me. I've never felt so good as an athlete."

Continued...

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