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A look at the newest Buccaneer, LB Kendell Beckwith.
- He's a big body who could fit in at SAM.**
The Buccaneers run a 4-3 base defense with Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David on the field for the majority of the time. That third linebacker, the strong side outside linebacker, primarily plays on first and second down and is usually the biggest of the three. At 6-foot-2 and 243 pounds, Beckwith fits the mold of a player who could potentially start as the Bucs' SAM in 2017.
2. His production speaks for itself.
Beckwith was a staple on LSU's defense for four years, appearing in 34 career games and recording 263 total tackles. He recorded a career-high 91 tackles during his senior season and saw increases in production in all four of his collegiate seasons.
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- He's Kwon Alexander's former teammate.**
Should Beckwith win the starting job as the Bucs' strong side outside linebacker, Tampa Bay's linebacker core would mirror LSU's in 2013 and 2014. The pair were teammates for those two seasons and both starters in 2014. Together they accounted for 131 tackles during the 2014 season.
4. He was one of the top high school prospects in the country.
Coming out of high school, Beckwith was a four-star recruit who played in the 2013 Under Armour All-America game, which happened to be held in Tampa. He announced his commitment to LSU on live TV during that game.
5. He is a former quarterback.
Before committing to defense full-time, Beckwith was a standout quarterback in high school. He was recruited as an "athlete" and could have played any number of positions, including quarterback, defensive end, linebacker or wide receiver. He had offers from nearly every major college program in the country.
