Zane Bedles Interview..More Than a Jock

I had the opportunity to visit with former University of Utah offensive tackle Zane Beadles. His approach to athletics and education is one all young athletes should look to emulate. Zane has done what's right throughout his career and it's been very fruitful for him. Many scouts project him as a 2-3rd round draft pick but his draft value is only a snapshot of who this young man is.

Le'Charles: How has the "draft process" experience been?

Zane Beadles: Its been going great! I've been down in Irvine California since the first part of January training. I went to the Senior Bowl at the end of January. I just got back from the combine a little bit ago. It's been going well, it's been awesome to just focus on football and training to take this process head on.

Le'Charles: How was your experince at the Senior Bowl, having heard some reports your stock might have dropped after your week in Mobile?

Zane Beadles: I felt the Senior Bowl was a very good experience for me. I played left tackle the last three years here in Utah and I didn't play left tackle at all while I was there at the Senior Bowl. I played right tackle and both guard spots. It was a little bit awkward for me at time and a little frustrating moving around positions. Especially playing on the right side, my weight and balance was off and that sort of thing. I haven't played on the right side since I was a freshman or sophomore in high school so getting used to that was a little bit challenging. Overall, I thought it was a good work week for me, I was able to show my versatility that I can play multiple positions. I got better as the week went on and more comfortable moving around positions and that sort of thing. I played really well in the game so it was great to finish the week off on a high note.

Le'Charles: Well, it's great you can clear that up because everybody that's writing or saying something negative about your week in Mobile fails to mention you played out of position the entire week. Can you play center?

Zane Beadles: I have never done it live but I think that could be a very good possibility for me as well. I have done snapping with C/QB excahange before so the snapping part isn't foreign to me. I think with a combination of my intelligence and the way that I work I could become a good center as well.

LeCharles: Speaking of intelligence, you're a mechanical engineering major?

Zane Beadles: That's correct.

Le'Charles: What do you plan on doing with that, us offensive linemen are the smart ones, where will that take you?

Zane Beadles: I've always been interested in designing defense weapons and that's what kind of got me on the engineering track. I saw a Discovery Channel show when I was like 12yrs old that really sparked some interest on futuristic military weapons and that's what got me going down that path. I have some interest in that post my football career. I also have some interest in sustainable energy I took a class on that my senior year of college and that sparked some interest as well but that's down the road because I'm focused on this football career right now.

Le'Charles: Well there are going to be those that question your committment to football just as they do Myron Rolle. Some GM may feel football isn't a priority in your life and in a few years you will be looking to move on. How would you address that?

Zane Beadles: The biggest point I can make to that is, I do have a good education, I do have a good plan I can fall back on but my desire is to play professional football and all that stuff I've done the past 4-5 years in school and worked so hard to get that degree well I'm putting that behind me and I'm putting that on hold because I want to go out a play football and play football for as long as I possibly can. I love this game and definately dreading the day I can no longer play it.

Le'Charles: How did your interviews go at the combine go because I'm sure you did very well. How did you feel coaches and gm's reacted to you?

Zane Beadles: It was very good. I knew that I was going to do well in interviews and that was something that I felt would be very good for me going into the combine. To get infront of gm's and really show them who I am. I had 14 formal interviews down there and talked to 26 total teams between formal and informal interviews. I thought pretty much every interview went very well and I was very pleased with the outcome. I think that it was something that definately helped me at the combine.

Le'Charles: Did you do you bench press at the combine?

Zane Beadles: I did but that's all I did because I pulled my hamstring the week before.

Le'Charles: What did you end up getting?

Zane Beadles: 27 reps

Le'Charles: You sound like a guy that really has his head on straight. What motivates you, what gets you excited?

Zane Beadles: To be the best I can possibly be. My parents always talked to me about, if you're going to go out and do something you do it 100% and put all you have into it. If you go out there and kind of put half of yourself into it you're selling yourself short. I try to approach everything that way, when I'm in the weight room I put everything I have into that, when I am in the film room I'm doing the same. When i'm on the practice field the focus is there. It's huge for me to go out every single day and be the best I can be. I set huge and high goals for myself. I feel like if i'm not challenging myself i'm cheating myself. The biggest thing for me is go out and show myself and others I can be the best at my position.

Le'Charles: There are people that will question if your game can carry over to the NFL. Coming out of Utah and playing in a spread offense, can you carry your game to the next level?

Zane Beadles: Absolutely, my preparation here at Utah has been huge for me. The way that we work here and the sytstem we run has prepared me very well. We run a spread offense but has a lot of elements pro teams run. We run the power play, counter play, inside run all that suff has prepared me very well. There are great position coaches here at Utah that have really helped me learn the game and play with technique. A huge thing for me in my game is my technique. I try to play as a technician and I feel like Im always trying to perfect my technique. My technique will carry me and i'm still learning the game but feel like I have a good grip thus far.

Le'Charles: Is there anybody you try to mold your game after?

Zane Beadles: Jordan Gross of the Carolina Panthers. He's from Utah a good athlete that loves putting people on the ground. I love being physical and putting people on the ground, lay on top of them. We don't get ot take hand-offs and score touchdowns we get to people's head in the dirt.

Le'Charles: Zane Beadles in 5 years, where will you be?

Zane Beadles: I will be an all-pro lineman with many years left in my career.