1/2/08

NORTHEAST'S BEARD SIGNS WITH CENTRAL ARKANSAS

BOONEVILLE, Miss.--Northeast punter/kicker Jonathon Beard (Weir) has accepted a scholarship offer and signed a letter of intent to play for Central Arkansas University beginning in the spring of 2008.

Beard, a 5-foot-10, 165-lb kicker/punter from Weir, Miss. who owns the Mississippi state career PAT record (197) was a three-time all-conference selection as a punter and kicker, and was twice named all-state during his high school career for a Weir HS team that went 43-2.

During his career at NEMCC, Beard was twice named All-State. He averaged 39.4 yards per punt as a sophomore in 2007, fifth best in Mississippi, with a long punt of 65 yards that was second best among MACJC punters. Beard also made 58% of his field goal attempts and 18-of-22 extra point tries in 2007. The MHSAA record holder was selected for the MACJC All-Star Classic on December 1, where he punted three times for a 40 yard average, and nailed a 32-yard field goal into the wind that was the difference in the North’s 17-14 win.

“Central Arkansas is a really good fit for me,” said Beard. “They don’t have any experienced punters coming back and I’ll have a great shot at earning the job in the spring. I’m so thankful I got to play at Northeast for two years. I believe the practice time and the exposure is why I’ve got this opportunity at CAU.”

“I wish we had him for another year or two,” said NEMCC head football coach Andy Greening. “Sometimes we take for granted what a luxury it is to have a guy who can handle all the kicking duties. Jonathon was one player who we never had to worry about. He worked extremely hard and now it’s paying off for him.”

Beard will begin classes at Central Arkansas this semester and will participate in spring practice with the Bears.

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