EARLY – A mock signing ceremony was held Wednesday morning for Early Longhorn senior running back/linebacker Tre Beam, who will be continuing his football and academic career at Hardin-Simmons University.

“It’s a complete blessing,” Beam said. “It’s something I have worked for, for a very long time and I didn’t think I was going to get the chance, but it ended up that I did. I’m extremely happy with where I’m at.”

Beam was named the District 3-3A Division I Co-Utility Player of the Year, finished with 1,460 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, 23 receptions for 346 yards and four scores, and 68 tackles, including 23 for loss, with six sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries as the Longhorns posted a 9-3 record and earned their first postseason victory since 2007.

“It means the world to me that I was able to change something,” Beam said. “Where you come from doesn’t matter. Early has not been the greatest at football for a while now and me and my group of kids were able to change that. We went to the playoffs two years in a row and got our first playoff win in more than a decade. It was really amazing.”

Early head football coach and athletic director Daniel Price said of Beam, “Tre’s been awesome. He’s been a guy for us since he got in the system and the program. He’s a great kid, a great leader, works hard, and set a tone for us in football that was unbelievable. He was all over the place and made tons of plays. He’s going to be a guy we’re definitely going to miss next year. He’s been a great program guy, and I couldn’t have asked for more of that kid. He has been a part in building this thing and turning it around. For him to get to this point to get to play at the next level, I’m real proud of him.”

Beam said of his decision to attend Hardin-Simmons, “I ended up choosing Hardin-Simmons because of the atmosphere and feeling I got when I was there. They seem to be really caring and honest and open with their athletes. They want the best for us and they expect the best from us and I can’t ask for anything else.”

Beam, who intends to major in Economics and possibly minor in Business, said of his on-the-field goals at Hardin-Simmons, “I’m going to be working harder than I ever have to earn a spot on the starting team. I am going to bust my butt every single day to prove myself and who I am.”