(Photo Courtesy of SMU Athletics)
“I have been here since the day after our bowl game, and I have been here since then except for when I had to go to the All-Star game in California.”
Kelvin Beachum is not on vacation or taking a semester abroad.
In fact, he is doing something that takes hard work and dedication. Hard work is something Beachum has shown impressively throughout his time on the field as a Mustang. This starting left tackle has blocked for an impressive record breaking SMU offense while adding yards on the ground.
Beachum redshirted his freshman year, but has gone full throttle since then. Concluding his last year of eligibility, Beachum will enter the NFL draft.
Beachum, in preparing for the NFL Combine, has enrolled in a penetrating eight-week training program with St. Vincent’s Sports Performance in Indianapolis, Ind. He is not working specifically to become a better offensive guard, but to become an all around better athlete.
When Beachum first arrived to a snow-covered Indianapolis, there was no ‘wining and dinning’ but there were many tests.
“They put me through a lot of tests to see where I could improve…how flexible, how strong your core is,” Becham said, reflecting on his first days at St. Vincent’s. “The first thing was to assess where I was as an athlete.”
After assessing where Beachum was in his athletic ability, they got to work. Now that he has started the program, Beachum works daily on performance training, medicine, psychology and nutrition six days a week.
As if going through an eight week training program wasn’t hard enough, Beachum, Texas born and raised, has left his family, teammates and coaches for the time being.
“I have been planning to go away for training for a long time, to get closer to God and to expose myself to see what I really need to work on,” Beachum said. “Being able to expose myself to see what I need to work on out of my comfort zone.”
While Beachum may be in a snowy Indianapolis, away from the support group he knows best, that does not keep him from the people who helped him get where he is today — preparing for the NFL Combine.
As far as coaches go, Beachum says he talks to Coach June Jones at least two or three times a week.
Beachum brought up the importance of a connection between coaches and players, reflecting on some of the things he took with him to Indianapolis from his time at SMU.
He says there are three things from Coach Jones and SMU President Dr. R. Gerald Turner that have really made an impact. They have to have good time management, enjoy opportunities and know how to have fun.
“They have tremendously helped me,” Beachum said.
Beachum will continue on his journey to become the best he can be in all areas of life. But while he is working, he keeps SMU close to home.
