Tennessee baseball commitment Drew Beam now ready to focus on football as Blackman QB

It's been just a few days since Blackman junior Drew Beam committed to Tennessee baseball.

With that decision made and a spring and summer full of baseball completed, Beam now has just one thing on his mind — football.

After gaining valuable experience and some growing pains as a sophomore starting quarterback for the Blaze in 2018, a lot will be expected from Beam this season.

"The expectations I have for Drew are through the roof," said Blackman coach Kit Hartsfield. "It's no higher than he has for himself. He's bigger, stronger and has grown. He's developed both mentally and physically. 

"The game's already slowed down for him. Most quarterbacks don't get that kind of experience as sophomores. We're expecting him to play like a senior during his junior season."

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Beam completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 1,509 yards and 16 touchdowns with just six interceptions.

But Beam knows that there were times when he played like a first-year starter in some big games.

"I could have had better games, especially the Oakland (24-14 loss in Week 6) and Mt. Juliet (35-14 loss in second round of 6A playoffs) games," said Beam, who said he would have given himself a "B" as a grade for last year. "There were other games where I threw the ball really well."

Beam was thrust into the lineup as a sophomore, but the situation was a pretty good one, having three of the state's top receivers (Arkansas signee Trey Knox, USC signee Adonis Otey and Charlotte signee Micaleous Elder), along with veteran starting running back Tamicus Napier.

However, there were many instances where either Knox or Otey were placed at quarterback in a Wildcat formation. Hartsfield said 2019 should be different, with Beam being the primary guy behind center.

"That was more about utilizing the players we had," Hartsfield said. "This year I don't really see us being a better team with Drew on the sidelines. I wouldn't expect to see nearly as much of that. It makes us too one-dimensional."

Added Beam, "It was a good game plan last year. When it fell into place, we executed it great and scored a lot of points. I do think that being in the game more, we'll pass more and hopefully keep the game rolling quicker."

Beam has missed every spring practice because of playing baseball and has also missed some 7-on-7 tournaments and other practices because of the sport that's ultimately going to lead him to college.

However, neither Beam nor Hartsfield believes that has hindered his progress in football.

"Not being there for practices has definitely been a down side," Bream said. "But baseball kept my arm in good shape. It kept me in shape and moving well. The mental aspect is a little different. I've had to learn the plays a little quicker, coming back from baseball. I have to catch up with what I've missed. But I've picked it up pretty easily."

Added Hartsfield, "He's a really smart kid. He does miss all of spring practice and a lot of June. But we don't really worry about it. There's no substitute for the kind of condition he's in week in and week out.

"He played in a baseball tournament, came back at midnight that night and led us to a 7-on-7 championship the next day. This past week he played football all week, didn't pick up a baseball, and went for a no-hitter on Saturday. There's no substitute for competing and being under pressure, regardless of the sport.

Blackman opens the season on Saturday, Aug. 24 at home on the turf at Bart Smith Field against Class 3A power Alcoa.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

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