ArlissBeach

Came out of spring practice as the No. 2 tailback … Earned playing time last season as a true freshman … Has gained approximately 15 pounds in the weight room since his arrival last year … Has played in 12 games.

2002 (Freshman): Played in all 12 games on the kickoff return team and also saw time as a reserve tailback … One of just six true freshmen who earned playing time and their first varsity letter … Carried the ball 16 times for 111 yards … Best game came against Texas-El Paso when he rushed nine times for 108 yards, including a 44-yard gain … Returned 12 kickoffs for 219 yards, an average of 18.2 per return, with a long return of 33 yards.

High School: First-team all-state following his senior season at Blazer HS in Ashland, Ky. … Rushed for a school-record 2,533 yards on just 244 carries, a 10.4-yard average, and 39 touchdowns … Had three games that featured more than 300 rushing yards … Caught 15 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns … Had a kickoff return for a TD … Second-team all-state by the Louisville Courier-Journal and named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top 22 seniors in Kentucky … Class AAA district and region Player of the Year as chosen by the state coaches association … Named to the all-area team as a junior and senior … Honorable mention all-state as a junior when he rushed for 1,620 yards and 18 TDs … Three-year starter at running back and defensive back … Helped his team to the state playoffs all three years … Set school career records for rushing yardage (4,711), total yardage (5,073), and points (426) … The No. 6 prospect in Kentucky by SuperPrep and an All-South pick by PrepStar … Coached by Larry Hall … Played in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee High School All-Star Game in the summer of 2002 … Led the Kentucky team to a 31-14 victory by rushing for 172 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries … Three-year letterman in basketball and was the starting point guard on a team that advanced to the state tournament his junior year … Named Best Defensive Player of the region tournament two years … A three-year letterman in track, competing in the long jump, 100- and 200-meter dashes, and the 4×100-meter relay … Member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, and Human Relations Club … Received the Skip Lawson Memorial Black Leadership Youth Award … Made an early commitment to Kentucky and did not seriously consider other schools.

Personal: Full name is Arliss Hansen Beach … Born 3-28-84 in Louisville, Ky. … Son of Andre and Kerry Beach … Has a cousin, Marty Thomas, who played basketball at Eastern Kentucky … Another cousin, Juan Thomas, has played minor league baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization … Plans a major in business.

The Cats’ Cause: Participated in service events with the Richmond Retirement Place and the “Mountain of Love” Christmas gift program (2002) … Participated in Literacy Night at Leestown Middle School (2003).

Beach Career Statistics

Year Pos.     Att. Yds. Avg. TD Long KOR  Yds. Avg. TD Long2002 Tailback  16  111  6.9   0  44   12  219 18.2   0  33