Versatile Beshears Enjoys Career Day against Aggies

Sept. 26, 2010

It was a day of firsts for Kansas sophomore D.J. Beshears who amongst the raindrops at Memorial Stadium dodged Mexico State defenders en route to 157-total yards and three touchdowns in the Jayhawks 42-16 win.

The first of Beshears’ scores was also the first rushing touchdown of his career, which was a 10-yard run late in the first quarter to put KU out in front 7-0. Less than five minutes later on the game clock, Beshears took another trip to the end zone, this time by way of a 96-yard kick-off return early in the second quarter. It was the longest such run by a Jayhawk kick returner since Dezmon Briscoe’s 98-yard scamper last season at Texas.

“I have to give all the credit to my blockers and the kick-off return team,” Beshears said after the game. “(Special Teams) Coach (Aaron) Stamn has been emphasizing that we need a big return, so I just made it happen.”

Coming into Saturday’s contest the wide receiver turned running back had only seven touches for 30-yards in his previous three games. By the time he took off his cleats after the New Mexico State game he had nearly doubled both categories.

“I’m a wide receiver but as of now I’ll do whatever it takes to win, so whichever position Coach (Gill) wants me to play, I’ll play” Beshears said.

His coach, Turner Gill made note of the standout sophomore’s versatility by listing a number of the places Beshears will be seen playing this season.

“We’ll line him up all over the place. That’s kind of our plan for the rest of the season.” Gill said. “It could be as a wide out, outside slot, sometimes the wing position and obviously in the backfield. It will be all of the above.”

That’s music to Beshears’ ears because the versatile offensive threat was on the other side of the ball last season where he played in four games at cornerback making 17 tackles.

“That’s just my natural side of the ball,” said Beshears. “I’ve always been an offensive kind of guy since I was younger.”

No matter which way Coach Gill decides to use Beshears the rest of the way, he has confidence that his other rushing counter parts will be able to pick up the slack while he’s contributing at another position on the field.

“We have a good group.” Beshears said of KU’s assortment of running backs. “Me, Angus (Quigley), (Deshaun) Sands, and (James) Sims, we’re all good runners so I’m just happy to be a part of that.”

Beshears and the rest of the Crimson and Blue foursome will look to add to their season totals as they open up Big 12 conference play at Baylor next Saturday.