BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Dorial Green-Beckham (born April 12, 1993[1]) is an American football wide receiver. He is currently a junior at theUniversity of Missouri and played for the Missouri Tigers until he was dismissed in 2014.
A two-time USA Today High School All-American (2010 and 2011) at Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Missouri, Green-Beckham was the first wide receiver to be named USA Today Offensive Player of the Year since Andre Hastings in 1989. He was also the first wide receiver to ever win the Hall Trophy. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming called Green-Beckham the best wide receiver prospect since Randy Moss.[2 High school career
In 2008, his freshman year at Hillcrest High School, Green-Beckham caught 37 passes for 801 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he posted 66 catches for 1,616 yards and 23 touchdowns. As a junior in 2010, Green-Beckham was theRivals High School Football Junior of the Year after he had 78 receptions for 1,706 yards with 15 touchdowns.[3] As a senior, Green-Beckham had 119 receptions for 2,233 yards with 24 touchdowns. In October, he became the nation's all time leading high school receiving yards leader, a record broken on November 16, 2013, by Trey Quinn, a Lake Charles, Louisiana, receiver from Barbe High School. [4][5][6] For his play he was named the Sporting News High School Athlete of the Year.[7] He played in the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Recruiting
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorial Green-Beckham WR | Springfield, MO | Hillcrest | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.43 | Feb 1, 2012 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 86 | ||||||
One of the most highly regarded football recruits of the class of 2012, Green-Beckham was listed as the number one overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.com.[8] He is considered the third best by Scout.com, ESPN and Sporting News.[9][10][11] In January 2012 he narrowed his college decision toAlabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, and he stated that he would make his decision on National Signing Day (February 1, 2012).[12] In a nationally televised ceremony, Green-Beckham announced he would sign a national letter of intent to attend the University of Missouri. Said Green-Beckham of his decision, "just to stay home and have all those guys [family, friends] come out and see me [was big]."[13] He picked Missouri over SEC-rival Arkansas, also because offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, who had formed a strong relationship with Green-Beckham and his family, left the school in December 2011.[14]
Track and field
Green-Beckham is also a standout track star. In the state Class 4 track and field finals in 2011, he claimed titles in the 100 meters, with a time of 10.92 seconds [15] and in triple jump, with a leap of 14.39 meters, and was also second in the long jump, with a leap of 7.14 meters.
College career
Looking to receive playing time as a true freshman, Green-Beckham was likely play the "X" receiver position in Missouri's offense, the same one prolific pass-catchers like Michael Egnew and Danario Alexander have thrived in, in previous seasons.[16] He appeared in the first five games of the season, registering five catches for 125 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown reception against Central Florida.[17] Then came an arrest and suspension due to drug possession, causing Green-Beckham to miss the Vanderbilt and Alabamagame on October 6 and 13, respectively.
Green-Beckham returned for the second half of the season on October 27 against Kentucky, catching a season-high seven throws for 25 yards. In a 7–14 loss at Florida, he totalled six catches for 75 yards. Then, in a four-overtime 51–48 win over Tennessee, Green-Beckham had two catches, both for touchdowns, and for 35 yards. In the final minute of regulation, he caught a game-tying touchdown in the left corner of the end zone.[18] Against Syracuse and Texas A&M, he added two and four catches, for 79 and 55 yards, respectively. For his freshman season, he had 28 receptions for 395 yards and a team-best 5 receiving touchdowns, which earned him honorable mention freshman all-American honors by College Football News.[19]
In his sophomore season, Green-Beckham had 59 receptions with a 15-yard average and 12 touchdowns. In the SEC championship game against Auburn, he caught six passes for 144 yards and two scores. His 27-yard catch set up Henry Josey's go-ahead score in the Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma State.
Green-Beckham was dismissed from the University of Missouri football team on April 11, 2014 (see below).
Personal
Green-Beckham was born Dorial Green as the third of six children born to Charmelle Green, a single mother, in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] He never knew his biological father. He lived in several foster homes before John Beckham, his high school coach, and his wife Tracy officially adopted him on December 30, 2009.[1] The Beckhams had brought Green and his younger brother Darnell into their home in 2006.[20] The couple has one other child, a young daughter, who Dorial is very close to.[13] Darnell Green-Beckham is currently receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia but is in remission.
Legal issues
Late on the night of October 3, 2012 Green-Beckham and two other freshman teammates, linebacker Torey Boozer and receiver Levi Copelin, were arrested on drug charges by the University of Missouri police department after the three were found in possession of 35 grams (1.2 oz) or less of marijuana.[21] Green-Beckham and the others were parked in a vehicle south of Memorial Stadium in Columbia at the time of their arrest. Two other unnamed individuals—also Mizzou players—were in the vehicle as well, but were released after police determined they were not involved in the drug possession.[21] After being processed at the campus police station Green-Beckham, Boozer, and Copelin were released on signature summons.[22] In response to the arrest a spokesperson for the MU athletic department said that all five players would be suspended from the next game, October 6 against Vanderbilt. Other disciplinary action may also be taken by the team[21] and handled internally with no additional public comment on the issue.[22] The case was resolved on October 16, 2012 when Green-Beckham entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge of tresspassing in Columbia, Missouri Municipal Court. He was fined $200 plus court costs.[23]
On January 10, 2014 Green-Beckham was again arrested on a drug-related charge.[24] Officials with the Springfield, Missouri police department confirmed the Mizzou star was arrested on suspicion of drug activity and booked into the Greene County, Missouri jail in the early morning hours of January 11th. Police found a pound of marijuana in the car he was riding in.[24] According to the Springfield News-Leader, Green-Beckham was originally arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute following a traffic stop but was later released without charges, pending further investigation.[25] Authorities, citing an ongoing investigation, declined to provide further information on the incident.
Dismissal
On Friday, April 11, 2014, Dorial Green-Beckham was dismissed from the University of Missouri football team. His dismissal followed his prior drug-related problems and an incident in which he allegedly forced open an apartment door and pushed an 18-year-old woman down several stairs. Green-Beckham was not charged in the incident, with police citing a lack of cooperation from the alleged victim. Head coach Gary Pinkel said in a prepared statement, "This decision was made with the best interests of all involved in mind. Dorial's priority going forward needs to be focusing on getting the help he needs. As we have all along, we will continue to do everything we can to assist Dorial and his family. We care deeply about Dorial and his well-being, but hopefully he can benefit from a fresh start."[26]
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