Justin Beaver Draft Blog-Part 2

Justin Beaver Draft Blog-Part 2

I'm sitting here 4 days before the NFL draft extremely thankful for the position I am in today.  Since my last blog there have been some very neat things happen to me.  Shortly after my last blog it was time for spring break.  The time away from school where the average and even the not so average student heads someplace warm to get out of the freezing, snowy weather of Wisconsin.  Each year at this time I head down to Panama City Beach, Florida with a group of friends.  This year is obviously different and I had to turn down multiple offers of heading off to a warm climate to party.  I had no trouble saying no and I strongly believe that is what sets me apart from the average person.  Though there was little chance of me getting a personal workout for a team, I wanted to stay out of the party scene since I haven't touched alcohol for so long.  I pride myself on using each day to take a step forward and use each day to get closer to my dream.  Call it what you want but half way through the week of spring break I got a call from my agent Scott Smith to head down to Arizona with Taylor Mehlhaff and Kenny Debauche to work with Gary Zauner a special team’s genius.  During these couple days I got my first feeling of how returning in the NFL may be.  I learned so much in the couple of days we were in Arizona about catching punts, kickoffs, and understanding the blocking schemes by watching film with Gary for both punt and kick returns.  As we took the red eye home, I took the time to think about how lucky I was to have had such a wonderful opportunity to workout with one of the best NFL special teams coach in the past 20 years.

When I arrived back in frigid Wisconsin I did hours of homework to get ready for the following Monday of school.  I keep working hard in the classroom because I've heard how important getting my degree is and at some point in my life would like to become a teacher and share my story with the younger generation.  At the same time I've been working harder than ever before, in preparation of being in a camp come May.  My whole life I've been given one chance, and that's all I've ever asked for to show that I can succeed.  I have had a workout with the St. Louis Rams since my trip to Arizona where I caught passes out of the back field from Wisconsin Quarterback Tyler Donovan and did workouts with Paul Hubbard and Luke Swan where I learned how to run certain routes.  I have been fortunate enough to keep in touch with Kenny and Taylor and try to get to Madison once a week to catch punts and kickoffs from them. 

I'd say I've been put in some amazing situations with going to Arizona, being so close to Madison to where I can go workout with top notch athletes and learn from them, and show off my ability in a workout for the rams.  I've realized the team that gives me my opportunity will want me to show them what I can do on special teams and I have workout extremely hard to make sure I'm completely ready for my one shot when it comes. 

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