JessBeets

• SEC Academic Honor Roll (2007)

Finished spring practice as the starter at right guard … Given UK’s depth in the offensive line, the competition for a starting role will continue in August … Former junior-college All-American who enrolled at Kentucky in January of 2007 … Participated in five games last season.

2007 (Junior): Appeared in contests against Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia, and Tennessee … Earned a place on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Junior College: First-team junior-college All-America by the Junior College Athletic Bureau … Second-team All-America as chosen by JC Gridwire … First-team All-California offensive guard both years he played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo … Also first-team All-Mission Conference each season … Helped Saddleback to an 11-1 record his sophomore season, including a Mission Conference championship, a win in the National Bowl, and a trip to the quarterfinals of the juco state playoffs … Saddleback averaged 37.3 points per game, ranking fourth among the state’s 72 junior colleges that play football … Averaged 421 yards per game of total offense, fifth in the state … Team went 7-4 his freshman season, winning the US Bank Beach Bowl … Rated the No. 97 junior college prospect in America by Rivals.com, including the No. 15 player among offensive linemen … Comes from the same school that produced a pair of recent Wildcats, wide receiver Chris Bernard and defensive end B. Jay Parsons … Coached by Mark McElroy … Received a “Scholar-Baller” Award for junior college student-athletes who excel in the classroom … Picked Kentucky over Colorado.

High School: Played two years at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. … Started at center both seasons and was named first-team All-Pacific Coast League each year … Tesoro was a new school, going 1-9 in its inaugural campaign his junior year before improving to 8-4 and advancing to the second round of the state playoffs his senior season … Coached by Jim O’Connell … Also played baseball and was a wrestler at Tesoro … Batted .505 as a designated hitter his junior season before giving up baseball to concentrate on football … Placed second in the league in the heavyweight wrestling division his senior year.

Personal: Born in Kansas City, Mo. … Has seen all parts of the country as he also has lived in Seattle, Philadelphia, and California … Son of Rick and Mara Beets … Rick played football at Pittsburg State in Kansas … Major is sociology.