The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Beers set OAC mark in 1992
The News-Herald is ranking the 25 best individual football seasons — high school, college or pro — for area players from the last 25 years. PLAYER » Willie Beers N-H RANKING » No. 19 YEAR » 1992 COLLEGE » John Carroll HIGH SCHOOL » Lake Catholic WHY HE’S RANKED » Beers is one of the best players in John Carroll football history.
When he finished his senior season in 1992, he was not only the Blue Streaks’ all-time leading rusher, he was the Ohio Athletic Conference’s all-time leading rusher with more than 4,397 career yards, a mark that — at the time — ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division III history. He earned All-OAC first-team honors three times, and his No. 27 jersey is retired by JCU. He missed one game in four years. During his junior season, Beers carried the ball 53 times in a game against Capital. THE SKINNY » Beers’ final season at JCU resulted in a solid 8-2 campaign, and the highlight was a home 42-6 win against Marietta. According to the JCU student newspaper, Beers set the career OAC rushing mark on a 17-yard option pitch from quarterback and Wickliffe grad P.J. Insana that went for a touchdown. He finished the game with 83 yards. When the season was over, Beers had 1,139 yards on 216 carries and 12 touchdowns. The road to JCU was interesting for Beers. He was being recruited by Ohio State and Michigan at Lake Catholic, but in the second game of his senior year, he sustained a shoulder injury and was gone for the rest of the season. So was the interest from OSU and Michigan. He attended Kent State, but said it wasn’t the right fit. He eventually landed at JCU upon the urging of his father. THEY SAID IT » “He’s the best player I’ve every played with.” Insana
“It was awesome (setting the school and OAC marks as a senior). Early on, you’re (playing D-III football), and you’re wondering if it will be what you want it to be. It was special.” Beers
“We wanted to break the record at home.” Former JCU coach Tony DeCarlo on Beers’ record-setting day vs. Marietta.
“Not many players can play four years and miss only one game. It’s a tribute to his durability that we can give him the ball 30 times game after game and he keeps coming back.” Former JCU assistant and current Case Western Reserve coach Greg Debeljak, after Beers set the OAC mark. WHERE IS HE NOW? » After his senior season at JCU, Beers was in line for a tryout with the Dolphins and Coach Don Shula, a JCU grad. An ankle injury ended those hopes. Bill Polian, then the general manager of the Panthers, also was interested until the ankle injury. Polian suggested Beers try out for Hamilton of the Canadian League, but he called it a football career instead. He graduated from JCU and began working in medical sales. Beers, 47, currently owns a medical distribution company that serves knee and hip replacements. Beers, his wife, son and three daughters live in Kirtland.