Beavers Signs With NFL's Panthers

DOVER, Del. - Wesley College's Larry Beavers (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) has agreed to terms with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League as a free agent. 

Contacted moments after the conclusion of the 2009 NFL Draft, Beavers will report to the Panthers at the end of this coming week.

"It feels great," Beavers said about signing with Carolina.  "It's something I've been working really hard to get to, working up to the draft.  Success doesn't come to you, you have to go to success."

Beavers will work primarily as a return specialist with the Panthers after a record setting career at Wesley.  The speedster now holds the NCAA all division records for kick return touchdowns 10 and total runbacks for touchdowns 13. 

"We're so excited for Larry," Wesley Head Coach Mike Drass noted.  "This is a great opportunity for a young man who's returned more kicks for touchdowns than anyone in NCAA history."

While nearly every NFL team had expressed interest in the Annapolis, Maryland native, the Panthers, in particular, seemed especially interested sending Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman to meet with Beavers.

This year, Beavers returned a kick and a punt for touchdowns against the Apprentice School, consecutive kickoffs at Webber International, and a punt at Lake Erie College. His 98-yard kickoff return against Mary Hardin-Baylor set a school record for longest return and established the new Division III record with as his fifth kickoff return score of the year.  He led Division III in kick return average at 39.5 and averaged over 29 yards per punt return.

Beavers also started at receiver for the Wolverines, leading the team with 598 yards and tying for the team lead with 30 receptions and six touchdowns.  He ended his career with 2,366 receiving yards, second all-time at Wesley and was seventh all-time with 126 career receptions.

With 41 career touchdowns between receiving, kick and punt returns, Beavers is the all-time leader in ACFC history in touchdowns scored.  His 5,373 all-purpose yards are also a conference record.

After the 2008 season, Beavers was named an All-American by the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association and D3football.com.  He was also named All-South Region and was the Atlantic Central Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Year.

Beavers is the second Wesley player in as many seasons to sign an NFL free agent contract.  Last year, defensive end Bryan Robinson signed with the Arizona Cardinals.