Young lineman draws interest
Cross County sophomore offensive and defensive lineman Danny Beale has received several Power 5 scholarship offers and is likely to see more coming his way.
Beale, 6-4 and 320 pounds, received his first offers from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Southeast Missouri State in June followed by one from Mississippi State. He’s since added offers from Arkansas State, Ole Miss and most recently from Auburn. Cross County defensive coordinator Katon Hill told Beale after the Arkansas-Pine Bluff offer that Power 5 offers would be coming his way.
“I said, ‘Mark my words, you will be a Power 5 recruit,’ ” Hill said.
Beale could line up on either side of the ball in college.
“I know for a fact Mississippi State offered him for O-line and D-line,” Hill said. “Ole Miss, I believe, offered him as a D-lineman. I think Auburn offered him as a D-lineman, but they told him it all depends on what side of the ball he fits better at. I think Arkansas State offered him as a D-lineman as well.”
He’s also on the radar of Arkansas, Houston, Florida and other schools. Beale recorded 26 tackles, 4 tackles loss, 3 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble last season despite teams avoiding him.
During a 7-0 victory over Carlisle, Hill said a Bison coach approached him at halftime.
“I was talking to the offensive coordinator. He said, ‘What are we going to do with 55?’ ” Hill said. “He said, ‘We can’t run at him, can’t run around him.’ As a defensive coordinator, [when] you have that type of size and ability, it creates havoc and also on the offensive side you can run behind him.”
Hill said he believes in college Beale could be a 3-technique on defense and a guard on the offensive line.
“If he’s an offensive lineman, I think he’s probably more of a guard because most of the Power 5 tackles being 6-6 to 6-7,” Hill said.
Hill, who played running back at Arkansas State from 2014-2017, said Beale is a joy to be around.
“He’s one of those kids, it doesn’t matter how you’re feeling, he can come into the room and he’s going to light it up,” said Hill, who also coached Beale’s cousin, AJ Beale, a redshirted defensive back at Arkansas State. “He’s that kid with a big personality.”
It’s no coincidence Beale is a likable young man with a good character.
“He comes from a very good family,” Hill said. “His parents, when I say they support him, they are very active in his recruiting process and will continue to be active.”