Bucs rookie Kendell Beckwith expected to compete at SLB

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 12: Kendell Beckwith #52 of the LSU Tigers on the field during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 38-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

By Bill O'Brien
Posted May 11, 2017 8:29 am EDT • Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith said that he expects former LSU Tiger Kendell Beckwith to compete for the starting strongside linebacker job for the upcoming 2017 season.

Beckwith is coming off a torn ACL that caused him to sit out Bucs rookie minicamp this past weekend and will likely hold him out until training camp.
Known for his physicality, Beckwith projects as an early down run stopper given his run stop percentage last season of 11.7 percent, which ranked ninth among the 2017 linebacker draft class.
The move to SLB will be a change for Beckwith as he spent the majority of his snaps playing at right or left inside linebacker or middle linebacker while at LSU.

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