Starting Lineup: Reading’s Xavier Beatty will make a good catch for some college team
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers, and specialists.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration.
A college coach’s evaluation is included in each story.
One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked). This is the fifth installment in the series.
Xavier Beatty, Reading High
| 6-2 | 180 | Senior | WR/S/CB/KR |
BACKSTORY: Xavier Beatty is reserved when talking about himself. The words are few, the volume low.
On the field, though, his game blares like a siren. His talent screams. Inside that football jersey he’s bursting with confidence. It shows in the way he closes rapidly on the ball from his spot at safety or in the way he goes up to snatch a ball out of the air.
“If I’m one-on-one with a corner, or DB, I think I’m gonna win that at least 90 percent of the time,” the Reading High senior says softy, but assuredly.
His confidence received a booster shot in the spring when he practically came out of nowhere to emerge as one of the season’s track stars.
In his first year as a long jumper he was a county champ, set a school record by winning a District 3 gold medal with a leap of 23-9, and brought home a silver medal from the PIAA Championships. His final attempt at districts turned into the longest jump in Berks County in nearly 60 years.
“I knew going into that last jump I had to show what I could do and really put it out there,” he said.
Beatty showed off his athleticism and ability to deliver in the clutch during basketball season when came from behind and swatted a shot out of bounds as time expired to preserve the Red Knights’ pulasting 65-63 PIAA opening-round win at Chester.
“He has a 77-inch wing span and he jumps out the gym,” says Reading football coach Troy Godinet. “He ran an 11.3 in the 100 without any kind of speed (training).”
“He gives everything no matter what sport he’s in,” Reading track coach Chris Yeshulas said. “When he’s on the football field he gives whatever he can on the football field. When he’s on the court he gives his best effort on the court. When he’s with us his goal is to be the best that he can be.”
Beatty earned first-team honors as a defensive back in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League as a junior when he had a pair of interceptions and covered the field sideline-to-sideline, constantly running downs plays from behind.
He felt snubbed when he ended up on the All-Berks second-team defense, not the first. He seems determined to make up for that.
“I felt I was overlooked,” he said. “It shows me that I’ve gotta work harder.”
The 6-2, 180-pound Beatty is on the radar of several FCS schools, among them Stony Brook, Towson and Villanova. He enters his senior season with no college offers. Schools are still waiting to see more.
“His film speaks for itself,” Godinet said. “I’m surprised a bunch of schools haven’t pulled the trigger yet, because he’s just a football player. He does everything we ask him to do: kickoff return, wide receiver, corner, safety.”
Beatty returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns last season: 93 yards against Muhlenberg – the second-longest in Berks – and 90 yards against Hempfield.
The Red Knights didn’t throw much last season and he ended up with just 11 receptions. He made the most of them, averaging a whopping 25 yards per catch; he took one 81 yards to the house against C.D. East, another 70 yards for a score against Wilson.
He tells his quarterbacks to put the ball up for him, even if it appears he’s covered.
“If the ball’s in the air,” he says with assurance, “I’m gonna get it.”
ROLE: Wide receiver, defensive back, kick returner.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Getting FCS interest from schools such as Bryant, Howard, Maine, Monmouth, Stony Brook, Towson, and Villanova.
COACH’S TAKE: “Green athlete with strong hands and breakaway speed. Xavier is a play-maker as a wide receiver and has range as a cornerback or safety. His length on defense closes windows quickly.”
| Xavier Beatty | Reading High | WR/S/CB/KR | Sr. |
| Chase Eisenhower | Wyomissing | FB/LB | Jr. |
| Evan Myers | Twin Valley | QB/DB | Sr. |
| Luke Spotts | Schuylkill Valley | TE/LB | Sr. |
| Logan Wegman | Exeter | T/DT | Sr. |
