Interview: 2022 Arkansas Athlete AJ Beale is a Top Missed D-I Talent
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Seeing all that AJ Beale can do on the field is inspiring. But it also brings some comic relief watching four defensive backs covering him seeing the Cross County High School talent come down with the ball. On offense or on defense, AJ Beale is getting it done showing he is a Division I college football player.
Stats always help paint the picture… get a drink of water, this is going to take a couple of minutes. Through the Thunderbirds eight-game 2020 season, Beale (6-1, 185) secured 37 passes for 839 yards with 12 touchdowns averaging 104.9 yards per game. Out of the backfield, he toted the rock 100 times for 677 yards reaching the end zone eight more times. Going the other way playing safety, he put an end to 66 plays with two picks, four passes broken up, and forced three fumbles.
In the travesty of it all, not only are college football programs missing out on him, but the entire state of Arkansas appears to be doing the same thing. After the prolific junior season, all Beale received was All-Conference honors.
In an RNG first-look interview, I got to sit down with one of the nation’s most missed on college football prospects.
Interview
AJ, I don’t know if you could’ve done much more for your team during the 2020 season other than drive the bus back and forth from the games. Let’s get into all the different positions you were playing.
(Laugh) I was all around this season; I played quarterback, receiver, running back safety, linebacker, outside linebacker, and corner.
On offense, looks like you guys were running a Spread and some pro-style sets. As a receiver, what were some of the routes you were going out on to move the chains?
Corners, outs, hitches, posts, goes, and pig tails.
Pig tails? That’s a new route for me. What is that?
It is a slant, come back and out.
Ah. After watching your game film and hearing you explain it, I know the route you are talking about. At tailback, what were some of the plays called to get the rock into your hands?
Mostly counters and tosses to get me outside. I rarely ran down the middle.
Everyone in the stadium, even the other team knew you were getting the ball. You were even hauling in some passes with four guys around you. How were defenses lining up against you?
They tried to double team me. Hampton triple teamed, but it did not work. Normally, there would be one under, one inside, and one over the top.
With all that you did, which areas of your game grew the most last season on offense?
My yards after contact and going up and getting the ball. During my sophomore year I was not doing that. My yards after contact played a big role during my junior year.
On defense, what base set were you guys in and what were some of the coverages?
Cover 2, 3, 4, and man. We were in a 4-3 base.
When your junior campaign ended, what did you feel were the strengths to your game on that side of the ball?
Covering the field as a safety and being a ballhawk. I did my job back there. Reading my keys, watching hips, my tackling, twos to one reading, trips; I learned a lot this year.
This offseason, what have you been doing to add more speed and agility to your talents?
Training in the sand pits, doing ladders, and running routes. I have a trainer, we do a lot to help my hip flexibility, getting my head around, and using my hands more. I am learning to use my hands more.
Have you dropped a 40 time this offseason?
Yes, I ran a 4.48.
That’s fantastic. Where did you run that?
At Arkansas.
There’s no disputing that then.
Yes, sir.
From my research for our interview, I see you play four sports. Which sports are you competing in for Cross County?
Baseball, track, basketball, and football.
Which events in track did you compete in this year?
The 4×1, 4×2, 4×4, 4×8, long jump, and high jump.
Again, doing it all. Back to football. Where will we see on the field in 2021?
This year I am transitioning to quarterback. It will be a new big jump. I am willing to learn and I want to help the team out. I will be going out wide some still and I will be at safety and moving around on defense. The big jump will be at quarterback. A fast guy like me in a Spread, it will be hard to cover.
I can see it. What have you been working on as a defender?
My hips, reading, and I am still learning how to read the quads of the field and watching hips.
And what about on offense, especially with this new role?
I have been working on my routes and coming out of my routes harder. Last season my routes were not hard at all. I am crisping everything up and making everything look better. I have been working on my speed, and being able to read defenses.
Which camps have you been to this spring and summer?
I have been to a lot. I’ve been to an FBU camp, an Under Armour All-American camp, and I have the FBU Top Gun camp in July. For college camps, I have been to Arkansas, Arkansas Tech, UCA (Central Arkansas), Mississippi State, and ASU (Arkansas State).
You have been busy. Which Under Armour camp did you go to?
The one in Charlotte.
How did that one go for you?
I did good. I ran a 4.5 and was invited back to the next day. The next day, I did well. I didn’t drop a ball. And I learned a lot. Steve Smith Sr. was there. He helped me out a lot. Coaching me on doing more with my hands and teaching us to be violent.
How did the Arkansas camp go?
That was amazing. I ran well and talked to their DB coach. I stretched, ran a 4.48, and then went in at safety for the first time at a camp. I had a few errors at first, but then I listened to the coaches and learned. During the 7v7 session, no one caught a ball on me. After the camp, I was invited on an unofficial visit.
During the visit, what all did you do?
I tried on the jersey, toured the facility, talked to the coaches, watched film, and talked about reading defenses. They showed me how their safeties work on defenses and the coverages that they run.
AJ, it all sounds great. Congratulations on showcasing your skills at all these camps this summer. Keep up the hard work.
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Photo credit: Beale family; AJ Beale