Jon Beason inked with Miami on Signing Day to become part of a tight-knit family
Beason was one of 11 seniors from his high school team to sign a scholarship on Signing Day
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2 min read
It didn't take Jon Beason long to realize Miami was the school for him.
On an official visit to the campus, Beason immediately noticed a family atmosphere at Miami when he saw former Hurricanes D.J. Williams and Reggie Wayne hanging out in the weight room.
"All the guys were back," Beason said. "You know, small-knit school, close -- truly, truly a family. I wanted to be a part of that."
Beason was a top recruit in the class of 2003 out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida. As a four-star athlete he drew offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State and Tennessee -- but his heart was always with the Hurricanes.
Beason's high school team was stacked with future college players -- out of the 23 seniors on his team, he said 11 signed scholarships -- which made for a crowded and frenzied Signing Day ceremony at the school.
"All of us were there in our school library," Beason said. "Our parents were there, all the coaches. We took a bunch of pictures, and everybody was happy. ... To earn a scholarship is extremely hard to do, but ultimately to do it with your friends is great."
Beason never second-guessed his decision to attend Miami, even as he watched his friends sign with other colleges.
"I felt it in my gut, in my soul, that I was making the right decision," he said. "Putting it to paper, making it official was just one of those steps. ... That was the next step in a long dream and goal that I had to play in the NFL."
Beason excelled after making the move from fullback to linebacker following a redshirt year as a freshman. In 2006 he earned second-team All-ACC honors while leading the team in tackles with 76 (51 solo).
After an impressive college career, Beason was taken 25th overall in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Panthers. He went on to star for Carolina, making the Pro Bowl three times and earning All-Pro honors twice in his career. Beason announced his retirement in 2016 after playing his final three seasons with the New York Giants.
Looking back at his success in the NFL, Beason views his years at Miami as crucial to his development.
"It really shaped me, being around different people, different cultures and ultimately being part of a program where the legend continues," he said. "It's something that's hard to describe, but it stays with you forever."
