UR receiver Jarmal Bevels playing catch-up, missed two seasons because of spring knee injuries
JOHN O'CONNOR·1 hour ago
At 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jarmal Bevels jogged with the University of Richmond's other receivers through the gates of Robins Stadium for the opening practice of spring football. Bevels did not cower and shift into reverse as the group approached the edge of the playing surface.
Given what happened to Bevels during spring ball at this site in 2015, and again in 2017, it would have been understandable if he reported Tuesday with hesitancy. He did not.
In the spring of 2015, Bevels tore the ACL in his left knee. That injury caused him to miss the subsequent season. Two years later in spring ball, "same knee, same injury," Bevels said. The second ACL tear kept him out last season.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Bevels showed in 2014, and again in 2016, that he was among the Spiders' finest receivers, with the height, ability and willingness to rise and snag 50-50 balls. In another even year, he is back to re-establish his presence.
"I feel great. I may feel a little bit of numbness and pain when I do some things, but I know it's just going to help me out in the long run and strengthen my knee," said Bevels, a Fredericksburg resident who attended James Monroe High.
As a true freshman in 2014, Bevels emerged as a reliable target late in the season. In 2016, he made 33 catches, third among Spiders, for 465 yards as UR advanced to the FCS quarterfinals and finished 10-4. Because of the knee injuries, he observed Richmond's run to the 2015 FCS semifinals, and last season (6-5, 4-4 CAA).
Bevels can't get back the missed practices and games with close friends, and he said that bothers him, but there's no one to blame. Asked if he felt cheated, Bevels responded, "Cheated by who?"
He prefers to look ahead, and Bevels will need that focus because working his way back into the rotation will be challenging. Receiver is the Spiders' deepest position. Returning are 5-11 junior Cortrelle Simpson (1,019 receiving yards in 2017), 6-2 senior Dejon Brissett (896), 6-3 senior Tyler Wilkins (876), and 6-3 senior Caleb Drake (150).
"I feel like I'll add a different dynamic they were missing, maybe in the red zone, with my height and being able to jump pretty well," Bevels said.
Second-year UR coach Russ Huesman plans to take it slow with Bevels. He will be held out of 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 spring activity and take part in other periods of the 14 offseason practices that lead into the April 21 spring game.
Though Bevels is a fifth-year player, Huesman feels confident that the NCAA will grant him another season of eligibility in 2019 because of the two knee injuries.
Tuesday began Kevin Johnson's first spring as Richmond's starting quarterback. Johnson, a 6-foot, 195-pound junior from Atlanta, led Richmond in the 2016 playoffs when Kyle Lauletta was injured, then redshirted last year.
"I think Kevin's a pretty calm guy. He has played in big games here, which is huge," said Huesman. If Johnson didn't have the opportunity to start three playoff games, "I'd probably be a little more nervous," Huesman said. "He's a confident guy and I think he'll be a great player for us."
