Brennen Beyer (No. 7) was a force on defense for Plymouth's football team in 2009. (photo courtesy of PlymouthPictures.com)

In Pursuit
of Excellence

Prominent college grid programs
make offers to Plymouth's Beyer

BY ED WRIGHT
Feb. 21, 2010, 9:15 p.m.

  Brennen Beyer sat in a front-row seat at Saturday's University of Michigan men's basketball game against Penn State, and he's not even a season-ticket holder.

  He's talked on his cellphone with some of the most distinguished names in the college football coaching ranks, and simple things like going through his mail can bring on an adrenaline rush.

  During the past three weeks, the Plymouth High School junior has experienced the perks that come with being a big-time, Division 1 college football recruit, and he's enjoying every minute of it.

  "It started about three weeks ago when the (University of) Michigan coaches came to my school," said Beyer. "It's been pretty crazy. I talked to coach (Rich) Rodriguez and he told me they liked what they saw when they watched my film. He said they liked my motor and the way I pursued the football.

  "He said they could see me playing a defensive end-linebacker hybrid position like Craig Roh's playing now for them. It's been exciting."

  Beyer joined several other U of M football recruits for an on-campus tour Saturday afternoon. The trip included prime seating at the basketball game, a tour of the football facilities and a meeting with Rodriguez.

  Beyer has landed on the radar of several collegiate programs thanks to two stellar varsity seasons at Plymouth where he has excelled as a two-way starter at defensive end and wide receiver.

  Possessing a combination of above-average speed, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame and a never-take-a-play-off attitude, Beyer earned All-KLAA honors this past fall.

  Among the other coaches he has talked with during the past three weeks are Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, Michigan State University's Mark Dantonio and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald.

  He's also been contacted by the University of Toledo and Notre Dame.

  Practically every day Beyer's mail box is stuffed with letters from programs that want him to play for them.

  "It's been a neat experience," he said. "I'm still trying to figure everything out."

  Beyer admitted it's too early to say which program he's leaning toward, but he said he'll probably verbally commit to a school prior to next February's official signing day.
 
  An excellent student, Beyer said he's not sure what degree he eventually wants to pursue, but he said he has a strong interest in sports medicine and physical therapy.