When a team loses two players from a single position to the NFL, one would expect that it would take at least one season to rebuild. That, however, is not the case for the UW tight ends who have proved they can pick up right where former Badgers Owen Daniels and Jason Pociask left off. Both sophomore Travis Beckum and junior Andy Crooks have filled a major void coming into this season. Maybe, most surprisingly has been the great play of Beckum. He is the team's leading receiver with 577 yards on an offense that is headed in the right direction. Outside of a rough first half in last week's come from behind victory, the UW offense has steadily improved as each week comes and goes.
Beckum isn't fazed by the new role. He just wants to impress his senior quarterback, John Stocco.
""I don't look at it for me personally,"" Beckum said. ""I just know that I am trying to send an impression to Stoc that he can trust me and he's going to know that I'm going to run my route [as well as] knowing that I'm going to be there.""
That mantra seems to work well as Beckum is also leading the Badgers in receptions with 37.
When asked the difference between him and Travis, Crooks simply stated the obvious.
""Travis is fast and I'm not very fast,"" Crooks said. ""He's athletic and he runs well. I don't get open as well as he does. He can shake anybody on a route.""
For Beckum, a converted linebacker, the transition was not that simple.
""My transition over from defense to offense was difficult,"" he said. ""In spring ball everything was new to me. I would be in practice and they would call out blocks and I'd have no clue where they were, but I'm learning and trying to improve every game, every practice. The transition has been big but it's definitely something I do not regret and I'm happy.""
Last week against an inferior team on paper, UW found themselves in a world of hurt starting the second half behind on the scoreboard for the first time all year. After senior linebacker Mark Zalewski's interception, Beckum added to the momentum on a critical third down play.
""Just last week when he caught that third down and ran through a guy and got a first down, that was something he probably wouldn't have done two weeks prior,"" tight ends coach Bob Bostad said. ""He would have been tackled right there.""
With his continuing improvement, he has gained the trust of his teammates, particularly on crucial plays late in games.
""It's great out there on fourth down and stuff like that to have Travis catching balls,"" Crooks said. ""I think we all have confidence in each other and that's part of the reason we've had so much success this year.""
On a crisp clear mid-October day, Stocco and Beckum found a connection that marched them right down the field to start the second half against rival Minnesota. On what was probably the final blow for Minnesota's chances Stocco found Beckum on two consecutive plays. The first being a 41-yard catch and run by Beckum only to be followed by another 40-yard catch for a score that extended the Badger lead to 35-3.
""Travis has given us some explosive plays,"" Bostad said. ""He can move, and he's improving every week.""
Now, deep into the season, having two solid tight ends that can both enter the game and perform at a high-level show that it is not all about one guy and Beckum is modest enough to understand that.
""A lot of the times that I'm in with the receivers and we know we need a passing down I know I'll be out there,"" Beckum said. ""I think a lot of times that Crooks is out there a lot of people sleep on him and don't really realize that not only is he a great blocker but he's a great catcher. I think that [having two] tight ends are a viable part to the offense.""
With two conference games yet to be played and a third against lowly Buffalo, Beckum finds himself in fifth place in the conference for receiving yards and top-10 in receptions. However, he would be the first to tell you in what areas he still needs to improve.
""I've had a couple drops, I can improve on my hands and also [my] blocks,"" Beckum said. ""Just being dominant at both aspects would be great and something I can work for and I strive to do that.""
