Ex-Liberty High player Brendan Beal leaves University of Florida

FROM KEITH GROLLER

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that linebacker Brendan Beal is going to transfer out of the University of Florida.

According to the Sentinel's Jeremy Fowler, the reporter who had that little youtube classic with Florida coach Urban Meyer back in March, Florida spokesman Steve McClain says the school has "granted permission for other schools to contact Brendan Beal."

Beal is a rising redshirt sophomore.

The 6-foot-3, 246-pound Beal never emerged as a primary Florida linebacker thanks in part to injuries and depth in front of him.

Beal hasn't played a down in two seasons with the Gators after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees 2008 and neck and elbow injuries in 2009.

"I spent two years at Florida under several different coaches in which I had the opportunity to learn a lot about football and had some good experiences there," Beal told Scout.com. "I appreciate the time the coaches gave me during my tenure with the Gators and wish them the best of luck with their program."

Beal appeared to perform well in each of his two spring practice seasons, but Fowler reported that competition is fierce at middle linebacker behind Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins.

Beal played just one season at Liberty, the 2007 season, after transferring from Roxbury, N.J.

He had an increased academic workload so he could graduate in December and begin taking classes at Florida in January of 2008.

He had a team-high 113 tackles, including 11 sacks, in his one season with the Hurricanes and earned all-area and all-state honors. He was also named Pennsylvania's Gatorade Player of the Year.

His one season at Liberty ended with a District 11 semifinal loss to Hazleton in a game Beal suffered a shoulder separation trying to tackle the Cougars' star tailback Nate Eachus.

That loss prevented what might have been a streak of four consecutive Liberty appearances in the PIAA Class 4A finals.


FROM KEITH GROLLER