Major recruit leaving Roxbury
BY JOE HOFMANN
DAILY RECORD
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Brendan Beal wanted to graduate high school early and get a head start on college in the spring. Roxbury High School couldn't accommodate the senior.
But Liberty High in Bethlehem, Pa., could -- so that is where the standout linebacker will be playing this fall.
Beal, who would have been New Jersey's second-best player behind St. Peter's Prep's Will Hill, according to Rivals.com, has narrowed his college football choices to USC, Florida, Boston College, Ohio State, LSU, Notre Dame and Miami. The 6-foot-3 inch, 240-pound Beal plans on attending any one of those seven in the spring. He has received full scholarship offers from all of them and plans on announcing his decision on Oct. 12 -- his birthday.
"I want to graduate and get onto a campus early," Beal said Monday. "I want to play spring ball and I'll be able to fit in easier. Some colleges I have talked to say I could start early. I want to get into a college weight room and learn the defense. I hear so many positives about doing this, so I wanted to find somewhere where I'd have that opportunity."
Beal thought about transferring to Delbarton (where he played as a freshman) or Don Bosco but was told he'd have to sit out the first 30 days of the season. When he found that Liberty has block scheduling and he can begin playing immediately, he enrolled.
Beal didn't participate in Liberty's May mini-camp because he was still a Roxbury student.
Beal, who now lives with his father in Bethlehem, will soon begin participating in weight training and two practices a week with his new teammates.
Beal was a first-team All-Area performer for Roxbury, accumulating 152 tackles, 11 sacks, and two INTs. He is also a ferocious hitter and caused six fumbles.
He is joining a Liberty program that finished 14-2 last year and reached the state 4A championship game. Liberty, which was ranked as high as No. 20 by USA Today, is considered among the top three schools in Pennsylvania entering this season, and the best team in the eastern part of the state, according to USA Today ranking guru Chris Lawlor.
Beal regrets leaving Roxbury, but he firmly believes he did what was best.
"I had to do it," he said. "My friends are on board with me on this. At first, I had some retaliation from people. But now people are accustomed to it. I have a close group of friends that I have been friends with all my life from Roxbury. They understand what I am doing. This isn't anything personal. I just wanted to graduate early, and Roxbury couldn't do it."
Beal wanted to remain a Gael and went to the board of education about graduating from Roxbury in December.
"I had every intention of staying," he said.
But when Beal's request was denied, he sought other options and settled on Liberty.
"I did this more for academic purposes, not for football," Beal said. "This fits my academic needs more and it just happens to be a good football school."
BY JOE HOFMANN
DAILY RECORD
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Brendan Beal wanted to graduate high school early and get a head start on college in the spring. Roxbury High School couldn't accommodate the senior.
But Liberty High in Bethlehem, Pa., could -- so that is where the standout linebacker will be playing this fall.
Beal, who would have been New Jersey's second-best player behind St. Peter's Prep's Will Hill, according to Rivals.com, has narrowed his college football choices to USC, Florida, Boston College, Ohio State, LSU, Notre Dame and Miami. The 6-foot-3 inch, 240-pound Beal plans on attending any one of those seven in the spring. He has received full scholarship offers from all of them and plans on announcing his decision on Oct. 12 -- his birthday.
"I want to graduate and get onto a campus early," Beal said Monday. "I want to play spring ball and I'll be able to fit in easier. Some colleges I have talked to say I could start early. I want to get into a college weight room and learn the defense. I hear so many positives about doing this, so I wanted to find somewhere where I'd have that opportunity."
Beal thought about transferring to Delbarton (where he played as a freshman) or Don Bosco but was told he'd have to sit out the first 30 days of the season. When he found that Liberty has block scheduling and he can begin playing immediately, he enrolled.
Beal didn't participate in Liberty's May mini-camp because he was still a Roxbury student.
Beal, who now lives with his father in Bethlehem, will soon begin participating in weight training and two practices a week with his new teammates.
Beal was a first-team All-Area performer for Roxbury, accumulating 152 tackles, 11 sacks, and two INTs. He is also a ferocious hitter and caused six fumbles.
He is joining a Liberty program that finished 14-2 last year and reached the state 4A championship game. Liberty, which was ranked as high as No. 20 by USA Today, is considered among the top three schools in Pennsylvania entering this season, and the best team in the eastern part of the state, according to USA Today ranking guru Chris Lawlor.
Beal regrets leaving Roxbury, but he firmly believes he did what was best.
"I had to do it," he said. "My friends are on board with me on this. At first, I had some retaliation from people. But now people are accustomed to it. I have a close group of friends that I have been friends with all my life from Roxbury. They understand what I am doing. This isn't anything personal. I just wanted to graduate early, and Roxbury couldn't do it."
Beal wanted to remain a Gael and went to the board of education about graduating from Roxbury in December.
"I had every intention of staying," he said.
But when Beal's request was denied, he sought other options and settled on Liberty.
"I did this more for academic purposes, not for football," Beal said. "This fits my academic needs more and it just happens to be a good football school."
