SB Nation - Travis Beckum

'Badgering' Garrett Graham: Up close with UW's star tight end

Adam Hoge — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:40:32 -0000

Senior tight end Garrett Graham is one of 30 tight ends in the country to be named to the John Mackey Award Watch List, an award former UW tight end Travis Beckum nearly won in 2007. Tuesday I had a chance to catch up with Graham and here is our conversation:

B5Q: With the talent Wisconsin has had at the tight end position in recent years has a brotherhood developed there?

Graham: You might say that. Going back to Owen Daniels and Jason Pociask -- they were seniors when I came in -- I got to know them fairly well and I see them every once in a while when they come back. Posciak especially kind of helped me out when I was younger. And then with Travis [Beckum] -- he and I are great friends. I just saw him about a week ago. He was here getting ready for camp [with the New York Giants] and whatever they are doing out there. So you could say there is a brotherhood, somewhat. We're all pretty close and a tight knit group.

B5Q: So you still talk to Owen Daniels and Jason Posciak from time-to-time?

Graham: Yeah, whenever they are in Madison I usually talk to them. Pociask actually came to our bowl game and I spoke to him. He was on the sideline. He's a really good guy. So yeah, I keep in touch with them as much as I can.

B5Q: What's it like to have three former tight end teammates in the NFL? It has to be something to look up to as far as your personal goals are concerned.

Graham: Yeah I mean I love watching Owen on T.V. and following him and seeing how he is doing. I think it will definitely help me out later when I can give those guys a call for suggestions and advice and things like that.

B5Q: Do you have Owen on your fantasy team?

Graham: I don't have a fantasy team. I've never played, but if I did I'd be taking him.

B5Q: Where's your blocking at going into this season?

Graham: I'd say as good as it's been. I've really worked on it hard and at our school you really have to be a blocker. I've kind of focused on being a complete tight end -- being able to run routes and catch balls but then being able to block on a power play. I'm happy where it's at now. There's always room for improvement, but I feel like it's the best it has been so far.

B5Q: There's been talk that fellow tight end Mickey Turner could be used as a fullback this year. Can you tell us anything more about that?

Graham: Occasionally both of us kind of pop back into that fullback position through a motion or a shift, but yeah, Mickey is more of a guy to do that. He enjoys it and he's good at it. So you might see him in the backfield more now that we lost Chris Pressley and Bill Rentmeester to the NFL. But when he does do it, I think he'll do a great job.

B5Q: Which freshmen are you excited about going into this season?

Graham: I'm not really sure what the freshmen on the defense can do yet. I haven't really seen their skills yet. But [quarterback] Jon Budmayr came in early and I saw what we can do. He really impressed a lot of us. Also, [offensive lineman] Travis Frederick. He's a really strong kid in the weight room. We call him "Big Thunder" just because of the amount of weight he can lift. On the squat rack he's a real beast in the weight room.

B5Q: In what ways will Lance Kendricks fill in the shoes of Travis Beckum and are you guys going to even skip a beat even though you lost him to the NFL?

Graham: Well Travis is a great talent and hopefully Lance can fill his shoes, but Lance is really focused and matured and kind of come into his own. He watches a lot of film, he studies the game and he knows what to expect. His route running is great and he's got great hands. You know, last year I think he struggled in a couple games because it was his first time and he was a little flustered, but this year I expect nothing but good things from him so I'm excited to see him play.

Hill blames troubles on offensive line, not on two DUIs

Adam Hoge — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:02:53 -0000

"I've only had like two teams looking at me, but I'll be fine; I consider myself a playmaker. Wisconsin struggled on our offensive line, but I made the most of every opportunity. I know I'll do that in the NFL."

- P.J. Hill in a NY Daily News story from Tues., April 21, 2009

In a somewhat surprising weekend, four former UW football players were drafted Sunday in the third round of the NFL Draft and none were selected the rest of the day. That left eight former players as undrafted free agents, two of those being P.J. Hill and Jonathan Casillas, both of whom were projected as late-round picks.

But the story right now continues to be Hill's fall from grace. The star running back who surprisingly left school a year early to pursue a professional football career has racked up two DUIs since he declared for the draft and exactly zero interest from any of the 32 NFL teams.

And apparently it's his former offensive line's fault, not his poor decision making skills or the DUIs, which certainly go hand-in-hand. In a New York Daily news story from last Tuesday, Hill was quoted saying: "Wisconsin struggled on our offensive line, but I made the most of every opportunity. I know I'll do that in the NFL."

Right, so having Joe Thomas (already an NFL Pro Bowler) your freshman year must have been a bad thing. Having the emergence of Gabe Carimi filling in for Thomas the last two seasons must have been a bad thing. Playing three seasons at a school known for having huge offensive lines must have been a bad thing.

Those five guys on the line are the only reason why Hill was once compared to Ron Dayne. They are the only reason why Hill, an injury prone baby, was able to stay healthy as long as he did. They are the only reason Hill even had a chance to be drafted in New York this past weekend. And unless I missed something, they had absolutely nothing to do with Hill getting two DUIs, the second of which involved him eluding police after getting pulled over.

So cheers to the 32 teams from the NFL for making the wise decision of not drafting a kid who once was full of promise, but is now in a downward spiral not only in his football life, but in his life in general.

Now, on to the kids who might actually make an NFL roster:

Matt Shaughnessy (DE/OLB, 6-5, 266) - Drafted by Oakland in the third round with the 71st overall pick. The Raiders can always use help on defense so Shaughnessy could see playing time.

DeAndre Levy (OLB, 6-2, 236) - Drafted by Detroit in the third round with the 76th overall pick. Levy's stock rose late and seeing as how the Lions didn't win a game last season, he should be in the mix right away.

Kraig Urbik (OG, 6-5, 328) - Drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round with the 79th overall pick. The Steelers have already indicated that they might try Urbik at center. They like his versatility and are willing to give him a shot anywhere on the line.

Travis Beckum (TE/WR, 6-3, 243) - Drafted by the New York Giants with the last pick in the third round (100th overall). With Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer gone, the Giants need guys who can catch the football. This is a good situation for Beckum.

Chris Pressley (FB, 5-11, 255) - Signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent. The Bengals like The Prez a lot but he will have to work hard to make the team because they re-signed Jeremi Johnson and drafted another fullback in the seventh round.

Andy Kemp (OG, 6-5, 313) - Signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent. It was somewhat surprising that Kemp went undrafted so he'll have an opportunity to make the team in Minnesota.

Jonathan Casillas (OLB, 6-1, 228) - Signed with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent. The Saints will probably keep Casillas at linebacker.

Bill Rentmeester (FB, 5-11, 247) - Signed with San Diego as an undrafted free agent.

Dave Peck (LS, 6-4, 245) - The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting Peck has a workout scheduled with Chicago.

Jason Chapman (DT, 6-2, 281) - Remains unsigned.

Mike Newkirk (DT, 6-1, 285) - Remains unsigned.

Poll

Which former Badger will have the longest NFL career?

Matt Shaughnessy - Oakland

8 votes

Kraig Urbik - Pittsburgh

74 votes

DeAndre Levy - Detroit

22 votes

Travis Beckum - NY Giants

40 votes

144 votes | Poll has closed

NFL Draft: Getting to know Travis Beckum

Ed Valentine — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:18:45 -0000

We looked at many of the players the Giants drafted throughout the course of the weekend. Right now, let's take a closer look at Travis Beckum, the tight end from Wisconsin the Giants drafted in the third round (100th overall).

Tom Coughlin said Sunday that the Giants consider Beckum a potential H-Back type, and the scouting reports indicate that would be the proper use of his talents.

From Draft Countdown.

Is in many ways a wide receiver in a tight ends body...Can also line up out wide or in the slot and is a mismatch waiting to happen...Probably would've gone much higher had he not been hurt as a senior.

Beckum, according to Mocking the Draft, was the top tight end prospect in the nation before breaking his leg last season.

The funniest thing I have read? This gem comes from Rotoworld.

A nice complement to Kevin Boss, one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. Beckum is a vertical threat who can't block a lick, but only fell this far because he broke his leg as a senior.

Did you ever think you would hear Boss referred to as one of the league's best blocking tight ends?

Badgers in the NFL Draft: Where will they go?

Adam Hoge — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:24:38 -0000

It will probably be a quiet day for former UW football players looking to get drafted this weekend as most of them will be selected in the third round or later, which won't happen until Sunday.

But there as many as 12 outgoing Badgers hoping to find NFL teams this weekend and B5Q predicts where those players will get drafted:

3rd Round

Travis Beckum (TE/WR, 6-3, 243) - The further he falls, the more he'll regret not coming out after his junior season.

Kraig Urbik (OG, 6-5, 328) - Arguably the Badgers' best pro prospect.

4th Round

Matt Shaughnessy (DE/OLB, 6-5, 266) - If he gets drafted into a 3-4 defense, he'll have to move to linebacker.

5th Round

Jonathan Casillas (OLB, 6-1, 228) - Injuries and DUIs have held Casillas back, but scouts still seem to love his talent.

DeAndre Levy (OLB, 6-2, 236) - Scouts love Levy's potential.

Andy Kemp (OG, 6-5, 313) - Will be drafted solely on size.

7th Round

P.J. Hill (RB, 5-10, 222) - Advice to any mediocre draft prospects who want to enter the draft early: DON'T GET TWO DUIs WHILE TRYING TO IMPRESS DRAFT SCOUTS! Hill will be lucky to get drafted.

Free Agents (In order of chances of being signed)

Chris Pressley (FB, 5-11, 255) - Hard worker and solid blocker. Has the will to make an NFL roster.

Jason Chapman (DT, 6-2, 281) - Injuries have really hurt his NFL chances.

Mike Newkirk (DT, 6-1, 285) - Probably too small to make it in the league.

Dave Peck (LS, 6-4, 245) - Good long snappers can be very valuable.

Bill Rentmeester (FB, 5-11, 247) - Brings a little speed to the table.

Be sure to join us on Twitter to get updates during the NFL Draft.

Poll

Which former Badger will get drafted first?

Travis Beckum - TE/WR

11 votes

Jonathan Casillas - OLB

3 votes

DeAndre Levy - OLB

2 votes

Matt Shaughnessy - DE/OLB

10 votes

Kraig Urbik - G

6 votes

32 votes | Poll has closed

Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.0 - Matt's Take

MattRichWarren — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:00:14 -0000

Here is the goal for my last Rumblings Authors Mock. I am going to attempt to address every need I think the Buffalo Bills have with capable players. I'm not going to go crazy with "if this guy falls two rounds" or anything like that, but it will certainly take some strange twists and turns. My first two mocks mean very little at this point in time, but here is the pre-free agency version and my post free-agency version. They are at least a starting point of players I like and positions of need.

Identifying positions of need
The first step in this mock was determining every need I think needs to be addressed. On offense we need a new starting left tackle to replace Jason Peters, a new starting guard to replace Dockery, and one to two depth players along the line. Even if you think Derek Fine can step up and start this year, something I wouldn't be against, we need another tight end on the roster. On defense at least one new pass rushing defensive end would be ideal and an upgrade over Keith Ellison at linebacker would be nice as well. Adding a safety who could supplant Bryan Scott and rotational depth at defensive tackle would be a bonus. That's nine players but with only seven picks that won't be easy to accomplish.

Trades
Jason Peters was traded. Reportedly the Eagles gave us their lower first round pick (28) and their fourth round pick. This needed to happen before draft day in order to allow the Bills to refocus their draft strategy.

I am also trading Roscoe Parrish. He has become expendable with James Hardy/Steve Johnson and Leodis McKelvin coming in last year. Put Leo back returning punts and I don't see a huge drop off. The Bills coaches are high on Johnson and he should get the snaps on offense Roscoe would normally get. The Browns were 23rd in the league returning punts last year averaging a little more than half of what the Bills averaged. They also need WR help badly with the Donte Stallworth situation and potential trade of Braylon Edwards. I trade Roscoe for Cleveland's Round 4 pick, number 104 overall.

These trades give the Bills nine picks with two first rounders and three fourths. It greatly increases trade up scenarios if a player the Bills covet falls like a Brandon Pettigrew or Clay Matthews. It also gives the Bills the best shot of filling their needs.

Click on the link to see the mock...

Here's the most realistic and optimistic mock draft I could put together.

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
After Brian's mock (I swear I didn't look at it first) you are probably not surprised by this pick. A well-rounded defensive end is something the Bills staff looks for and Ayers is that player. He injects youth to the position and has the ability to contribute right away while hopefully becoming a guy like Aaron Schobel (was) who can contribute in every phase of the defense and still pick up double-digit sacks.

1-28: Clay Matthews, LB, USC
I continue adding players to the defensive front seven with Clay Matthews in to replace Keith Ellison. If Michael Oher is still there I think they may take him but I won't bank on it. They may have to use one of those fourths to trade up to get Matthews, but I think they like him enough to do that.

2-42: Max Unger, C/OG, Oregon
Unger has been the top interior lineman on my board for a while now. He is athletic, versatile, and smart. We should make him our new starting RG and move Butler over to the left side to solidify the interior. He can also be our back-up center should Hangartner go down to injury.

3-75: Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
At some point along the way I had to add a tight end to the mix. I have been on the Beckum bandwagon for a while now. He went to Wisconsin as a linebacker and converted to TE. He has some growing to do at the position but outside of a broken leg he suffered while blocking (yes blocking) he has been durable. He has great hands and good feet. He has the potential to be our opening day starter or a nice compliment to Derek Fine.

4-104: Augustus Parrish, OT, Kent State
I've waited long enough. I still have not added a new offensive tackle to replace the departed Jason Peters. Parrish would have an opportunity to compete for the starting job at left tackle. He has great athleticism but lacks the strength to be a road grader type run blocker. Luckily he has the frame to add muscle and become the complete package. He has been durable as well.

4-110: Chip Vaughn, SS, Wake Forest
With the biggest needs on my draft board addressed, I can look one of two ways to strong safety or defensive tackle. Intense and an outstanding tackler, Vaughn could immediately come in and start on running situations. In college his coverage skills were generally limited to the deep zone where he could use his great closing speed to make tackles. He wouldn't be brought in to replace Bryan Scott but rather compliment him. ("Nice work Bryan.") But he certainly could replace Scott eventually.

4-121: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
Marcus Stroud is over 30 and John McCargo is a disappointment. The answer is Irvin who was in for a visit at One Bills Drive. (I swear I didn't read Brian's mock before I did mine.) This could do one of two things - light a fire under McCargo and make him a capable contributor or be the last nail in the proverbial pick slip coffin. Oh hey quick question.... Where did Marcus Stroud go to college? They develop them hard (and flat) nosed when they are Bulldogs.

5-147: Phillip Hunt, DE, Houston
The Bills obviously liked Chris Ellis's value for his draft position this year. Hunt's value to them as a Tampa 2 DE will be too much to pass up in the fifth round. While he may be hard pressed to get playing time or contribute this year, the Bills need to add youth to the position and Hunt would be ready to play by the time the big three DEs contracts expire. The Bills have a history of drafting positions of need in bunches and this fits the bill.

6-183: Cornelius Lewis, OT, Tennessee St.
Lewis was a transfer from Florida State after violating team rules (they have them at FSU?). All he did was become an excellent pass blocker. Lewis showed off great hands and feet in the Texas vs. the nation event. Even with some character concerns, he's worth the risk in the 6th round.

7-220: DeAndre Levy, OLB, Wisconsin
One way to hedge your bets on a draft pick is to bring in another player later in the draft as a safety valve (see Williams, Kyle). Kawika Mitchell is 30, Alvin Bowen may or may not be the same after his ACL tear, and Keith Ellison is likely only around for one more year. This is a great place to bring in an additional linebacker who could excel on special teams while waiting in the wings to make an impact on defense. Levy has a high motor, ran a great 40 at his pre-draft workout, and was very productive in his college career.

YouTube Saturday: Day Two tight end options

Brian Galliford — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:30:08 -0000

It's Saturday at Buffalo Rumblings, which means it's time for another version of YouTube Saturday. Today, we'll look at five day two tight end prospects in this year's NFL Draft that might pique the interest of our Buffalo Bills. And only four of them were collegians last year!

James Casey (Rice), Travis Beckum (Wisconsin), Jared Cook (South Carolina), Bear Pascoe (Fresno State) and Tony Scheffler (Denver Broncos) are profiled here. As always, these haven't been screened for NSFW music, so keep the volume low just to keep it safe.

Four more videos for you after the jump.

Ranking the NFL Draft's tight end prospects

Brian Galliford — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:29 -0000

TE Pettigrew the lone first-day prospect (buffalobills.com)

As the 2009 NFL Draft approaches, we here at Buffalo Rumblings will continue interviewing bloggers and consulting outside sources in putting together detailed scouting reports on some of the Draft's most noteworthy prospects - concentrating, of course, on prospects that could pique the interest of the Buffalo Bills. This is the start of a new series in which I'll rank prospects at each position; ultimately, this project will roll itself into the "Buffalo Rumblings Big Board", which is exactly what it sounds like - the same type of big board NFL teams keep handy on draft day.

While speculation continues to run rampant as to the trade availability of OT Jason Peters, the potential of drafting a tackle in the first round, and the continued need for an infusion of talent in the pass rushing department, one position has steadfastly remained a need area throughout the entire off-season: tight end. What follows is a ranking of the draft's starting-caliber tight end prospects; this is the second post of this type, as earlier in March we ranked the outside linebackers as well.

FIRST ROUND PROSPECTS
1. Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State: Pettigrew is, by light-years, the most complete tight end prospect available this year, and perhaps in recent memory. Question his receiving numbers all you want, but the undeniable truth is that if the Bills are ever going to think that a tight end is perfect for their offense, this guy is it. He's ready to contribute to a winning organization right away, and he's still got solid upside as well.

THIRD ROUND PROSPECTS
2. Chase Coffman, Missouri: They say this year's tight end class is deep. I disagree. There are a lot of players available; very few of them fit what the Bills traditionally look for at the position. One one-dimensional guy with room to grow is Chase Coffman, owner of the best set of hands in the draft. His hands make him coveted; his size and blocking potential put him second on my list, but only as a third-round prospect.

3. Shawn Nelson, Southern Mississippi: Again, this is a prospect where "blocking" only comes with the word "potential" attached. Still, Nelson is a great receiving prospect, and unlike some other folks at the position, he actually tries to block. He's got the chops to eventually be a more well-rounded tight end than most of his peers here.

Seven more names for you after the jump.

FOURTH ROUND PROSPECTS
4. Travis Beckum, Wisconsin: He's small, athletic and yet another catching-before-blocking prospect, but at least he comes from a pro-style offense that focuses on running the ball. That will help, as he comes with the right mentality. Beckum is one of the better all-around athletes available this year, but he's got some injury concerns to deal with.

5. Jared Cook, South Carolina: Possibly the single best athlete available this year at any position, but he's highly unpolished - even as a receiver - and has serious questions surrounding his desire and work ethic. Were he to be available in the fourth round, the team might have a hard time passing on his raw potential. But the guy simply doesn't fit the Bills' profile, and is lacking in several key categories.

6. Cornelius Ingram, Florida: See Beckum, raise injury concerns, and subtract the pro-style offense bit. Ingram isn't going to be a great fit in most NFL cities right out of the gate. His potential, like many of the names on the list, is through the roof, but there's a rather large gap to cross between rookie and productive professional.

FIFTH ROUND PROSPECTS
7. Jared Bronson, Central Washington: Underrated athletically, few talk about this guy because of the "big" names at the position. He's got a higher ceiling than most as a blocker (his frame is better suited for it), but he's much more in the area of the rest of his peers. Still, he seems like a smarter investment as a potential fifth-round pick as opposed to the fourth-round prospects listed above.

8. James Casey, Rice: Most see this guy as a tight end, but he's being looked at as a running back and a quarterback as well. The guy has, quite literally, zero experience as a blocker. I think he's one of the better receiving prospects in the entire draft, but he'll need more work than most before he's ready to contribute at the NFL level.

9. Anthony Hill, North Carolina State: He's the type of tight end that most Bills fans loathe - a good blocker that is severely untested as a receiver. In short, he's a much better fit for the Bills than some of his big-name peers. He's got solid potential as a receiver, but he'll never be a game-changing threat.

10. Dan Gronkowski, Maryland: Another block-first tight end with underrated athletic skills, Gronkowski is a name to keep an eye on. I have him graded as a fifth-rounder, but he might be available lower. If the Bills choose to put off tight end for the first four or five rounds, Gronkowski very well could be a Bill.

***

This is just my opinion, folks. These are the ten rookie tight ends I think the Bills could get away with plugging into the lineup in some capacity next season. If you think I've made a grievous error in these rankings, let me know. If you think I've got some sort of hidden agenda, I'd love to hear about it. If you're itching to re-shuffle my rankings, let it rip. Consider this an open forum on 2009 NFL Draft tight end prospects. Go.

Scouting report: Travis Beckum

Mocking Dan — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:00:11 -0000

Travis Beckum

6'3, 237 pounds | Wisconsin | Tight end

Strengths: When healthy, Beckum is an excellent pass-catching tight end. He runs crisp, sharp routes and possesses excellent hands. He catches the ball away from his frame and has good high-point agility. Looks like he has the hand strength to hang onto the ball after getting hit. Does an excellent job running seam routes and can gain separation after the catch. Good agility and can change direction easily. One of the fastest tight ends in this class (ran a 4.63 at the Combine).

Weaknesses: Because of his size and scheme Wisconsin ran, Beckum is a very poor blocker. He was never asked to block much for the Badgers and will almost completely have to be trained in proper blocking technique. After the catch, Beckum doesn't have the leg strength to break a lot of tackles by linebackers and safeties. Always seemed to be banged up at Wisconsin, even before breaking his fibula in 2008. After his junior season, Beckum had shoulder surgery, which might concern teams more than the broken leg.

Final word: Going into his senior season, Beckum was considered the top tight end in the nation. Then, part way through the 2008 season, Beckum was lost to a broken leg. Combine that with a slight frame for tight end and poor blocking skills, and Beckum is no longer considered a top prospect. Still, he'll provide a team with a solid pass-catching tight end. He's still learning the position after playing on defense in high school and in his first year at Wisconsin.

Round projection: 3

Traveling the Nation

Mocking Dan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:00:09 -0000

This is a look around the SB Nation football blogs for the best draft-related content.

It's clear that the Bills need to improve their pass rush this offseason. Everyone knows that, including the head honcho at Buffalo Rumblings. He takes a look at the top linebackers and offers some analysis. His favorite? Clay Matthews, who I interviewed last month.

The Rumblers also break down Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum. By the way, look for a report on Beckum here at Mocking the Draft Friday. There will also be one on Kraig Urbik and maybe some other Wisconsin players.

Sometimes this time of year, teams interview prospects just for due diligence. Case in point, the Lions are bringing in BJ Raji.

Big Cat Country breaks down Brian Robiskie. Niners Nation does the same with Robert Ayers.

Rumblings Scouting Report: Wisconsin TE Travis Beckum

MattRichWarren — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:15:07 -0000

Wisconsin TE Travis Beckum (dailycardinal.com)

As the 2009 NFL Draft approaches, the editorial staff at Buffalo Rumblings will begin profiling draft prospects that may end up being potential targets of the Buffalo Bills. Matt takes up back to the offensive side of the ball to by profiling Wisconsin's Travis Beckum.

One of the positions of need that has been clearly stated by the Rumblings community this year is a pass-catching tight end. Today we'll look at Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum.

While I never watch college football, let alone the University of Wisconsin, the bloggers over at SBN's own Big Ten Football blog The Rivalry, Esq. sure do. Here's what grahamfiller10 and Law Buckeye had to say about Beckum. And just recently, SBN added a brand new Wisconsin blog, Bucky's Fifth Quarter, and their Editor Adam Hoge has also given us some great information. I'll differentiate by their initials.

Travis Beckum- Tight End, Missouri
6'4", 230 lbs., 4.61-second 40 yard dash
Senior

Strengths: Force in the passing game

Beckum is the epitome of the freakish new TE/WR hybrids that are becoming popular. But he holds a trump card: He has amazing body control and route running ability. I imagine Beckum running complicated NFL routes seamlessly and making catches with linebackers draped all over him. - G.F.10

Beckum is a small frame, big bearing tight end, more akin to a wideout. It's this reach and mobility that contributes to his prowess in the slot. I saw Travis play in person, when Ohio State visited Camp Randall last October. What impressed me was his ability to make difficult grabs over the middle -- particularly in closing coverage. Still, it's hard to discount his variability. Beckum displays solid awareness -- and reach when the ball is over or underthrown. His flexibility allows him to roll off hits, translating to yards after the catch. - L.B.

Beckum's catching ability is probably his greatest strength behind his athleticism. He was a surehanded receiver throughout his college career and Wisconsin's top receiving weapon during his junior and senior year. He can make tough catches and rarely drops the ball. - A.G.

Weaknesses: "TE/WR hybrid"

He was mainly in the slot - Wisconsin's offensive set (which loves TE blocking) would often place other TE's in three point stances during heavy sets. I'm sure you can find tape of him in 3 pt, but teams like Wisconsin have about 6 blocking TE's on the roster. He isn't weak, just never was put in that situation. - G.F.10

Beckum's blocking abilities will be tested in the NFL as he rarely ever received a tough blocking assignment in college. Wisconsin usually employs two tight ends, one to block and one to catch. By Beckum's senior season, he was split out wide just as many times and he was bunched on the line. Beckum could block downfield when he didn't have the ball and he will be much better than a lot of pro wide receivers in that regard. - A.G.

NFL Comparison: Dallas Clark, Indianapolis; Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay

Faster and more athletic than Clark according to scouts. Beckum's a catch-first tight end with [Winslow's] kind of speed and athleticism.

Unsung (or Under-utilized) Ability: Physicality

He was a highly rated high school linebacker whose athleticism convinced Badger coaches to switch him to tight end. So he's not just a pretty boy tight end who doesn't want to block (although the Badgers did not pound the ball behind him). - G.F.10

Other Tidbits:

Has only played 2 1/2 seasons at tight end after entering as a OLB and having a fractured fibula sideline him for the last five games of the 2008 season (Wisconsin running back John Clay rolled up on the back of Beckum's leg while the tight end was blocking downfield in front of him. - A.G.)... "If Beckum would have come out last year he probably would have been a first round pick." - New Era Scouting... "...stock has fallen after the broken leg and lower numbers, but Beckum was a victim of awful quarterback play last season" - A.G.

Does he fit the Bill?

Overall, I won't quarrel with the draft predictions -- Travis' elite talent level lands him as high as the third round, but a disappointing senior season, and questionable durability, keep him from breaking into the top three at the position. Still, he's a bargain pick, and an invaluable punch in the gut when defenses seal off the run. - L.B.

Of all the hybrid TE/WRs, Beckum seems to have some of the best blocking skills. I love the fact he played linebacker and isn't averse to some contact. He is my favorite second-tier TE prospect in this draft. If the Bills haven't picked a TE by round 3 and he is still on the board, I would hope the Bills step up and take this guy. Don't let his 4.61 40 time fool you. He was at "80%" from his healing leg. He can run a legit 4.55 or faster, putting him in line with Jared Cook's blazing time.

Collected Scouting Reports for further information:

SBN's Mocking the Draft (Rated fourth-best TE)
New Era Scouting (Rated 7th-best TE, Round 3-4 projection)
NFL.com
NFLDraftScout.com (Round 3 Projection)

Many thanks to the bloggers from The Rivalry, Esq., grahamfiller10 and Law Buckeye, as well as Adam Hoge from the brand spanking new Bucky's Fifth Quarter blog for their insight.