Mekhi Becton Explained
| Mekhi Becton |
| Current Team: | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Number: | 77 |
| Position: | Guard |
| Birth Date: | April 18, 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Highland Springs, Virginia, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 7 |
| Weight Lb: | 363 |
| High School: | Highland Springs |
| College: | Louisville (2017–2019) |
| Draftyear: | 2020 |
| Draftround: | 1 |
| Draftpick: | 11 |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Status: | Active |
| Highlights: |
|
| Statseason: | 2023 |
| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statvalue1: | 31 |
| Statlabel2: | Games started |
| Statvalue2: | 30 |
| Pfr: | BectMe00 |
Mekhi Becton (born April 18, 1999) is an American football guard for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisville and was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Early life
Becton attended Highland Springs High School in Richmond, Virginia. He was regarded as a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 43 offensive tackle and No. 405 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite.[1] Becton was recruited by 31 schools to play football, but by February 1, 2017, National Signing Day, he had narrowed the choice to five schools: Louisville, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Michigan, and Oregon.[2] While he had been heavily recruited by Virginia, he ultimately chose Louisville on signing day.[3]
College career
Becton played as a freshman in the 2017 season. During his freshman year, Becton played in 13 games and started 11 for the Cardinals at the tackle position. During the first 4 games of the season, Becton was the highest rated freshman in the country by Pro Football Focus, and during the 7 he was the best pass-blocker in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), allowing only 6 pressures in 312 snaps.[4]
Becton was named a starting tackle for the 2018 season and started every game, bringing his total number of games started to 23 by the end of the season.[5] Becton was again named a starting tackle for the 2019 season. He received first team All-ACC honors after the conclusion of the regular season. Becton decided to forgo his senior season and sit out Louisville's bowl game, and declared for the 2020 NFL draft.[6]
Professional career
New York Jets
Becton was selected in the first round with the 11th overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL draft.[7]
On September 12, 2021, Becton suffered an apparent knee injury and was carted off the field. It was revealed that Becton had suffered cartilage damage, which required surgery, putting him out for 4–6 weeks.[8] He was placed on injured reserve on September 14, 2021.[9]
On July 27, 2022, after George Fant was moved to left tackle, Becton was shifted to right tackle.[10] On August 8, during training camp, Becton was diagnosed with an avulsion fracture of his right kneecap. Eight days later, the Jets placed him on injured reserve, and he missed the entire 2022 season.[11]
Philadelphia Eagles
On April 29, 2024, Becton signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.[12]
NFL career statistics
| Legend |
|---|
| First Team All-Pro |
| No type penalty |
| Bold | Career high | |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Offense |
|---|
| GP | GS | Snaps | Pct | Holding | False Start | Decl/Pen | Acpt/Pen |
|---|
| NYJ | 14 | 13 | 691 | 81% | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
|---|
| NYJ | 1 | 1 | 48 | 74% | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|---|
| NYJ | did not play due to injury |
|---|
| NYJ | 16 | 16 | 987 | 95% | 3 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
|---|
| Career | 31 | 30 | 1,726 | - | 3 | 14 | 5 | 19 | |
|---|
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Mekhi Becton, Highland Springs, Offensive Tackle . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210606161713/https://247sports.com/Player/Mekhi-Becton-85356/high-school-148131/ . June 6, 2021 . March 7, 2020 . 247Sports.com.
- Web site: Barber . Mike . September 21, 2018 . Louisville's Mekhi Becton, the one that got away, plays at UVA on Saturday . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190906020304/https://www.richmond.com/sports/college/schools/university-virginia/louisville-s-mekhi-becton-the-one-that-got-away-plays/article_0a1ed158-bd33-11e8-a5a9-870b59d072bf.html . September 6, 2019 . September 6, 2019 . . . en.
- Web site: Jones . Steve . August 26, 2017 . Louisville football Massive freshman OL Mekhi Becton grows into a potential star . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327182229/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2017/08/26/louisville-football-massive-freshman-ol-mekhi-becton-grows-into-potential-star/604694001/ . March 27, 2022 . May 4, 2018 . . Gannett.
- Web site: Lourim . Jake . November 8, 2017 . Mekhi Becton, Louisville's 350-pound freshman, has lived up to the hype . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327182229/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2017/11/08/mekhi-becton-louisvilles-350-pound-freshman-has-lived-up-hype/837472001/ . March 27, 2022 . May 4, 2018 . . Gannett.
- Web site: McCammon . Michael . August 5, 2019 . Trimmer, faster Mekhi Becton leading Louisville offensive line . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327182230/https://247sports.com/college/louisville/Article/louisville-cardinals-football-offensive-lineman-mekhi-becton-video-134206812/ . March 27, 2022 . September 6, 2019 . . en-US.
- Web site: Demling, Jody . December 16, 2019 . Louisville OL Mekhi Becton to turn pro; won't play in bowl game . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327182231/https://247sports.com/college/louisville/Article/louisville-football-nfl-draft-mekhi-becton-music-city-bowl-scott-satterfield-140623068/ . March 27, 2022 . December 17, 2019 . 247sports.com.
- Web site: Costello . Brian . April 23, 2020 . Jets select Mekhi Becton with No. 11 pick in NFL Draft . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200424194149/https://nypost.com/2020/04/23/jets-select-mekhi-becton-with-no-11-pick-in-nfl-draft/ . April 24, 2020 . April 23, 2020 . New York Post.
- Web site: McGavic . Matthew . September 13, 2021 . Report: OT Mekhi Becton Out 4-6 Weeks Following Knee Surgery . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210913170434/https://www.si.com/college/louisville/football/becton-out-4-6-weeks . September 13, 2021 . September 13, 2021 . Sports Illustrated . en.
- Web site: Greenberg . Ethan . Allen . Eric . September 14, 2021 . Jets Sign 4 Players; Place 4 on Injured Reserve . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210915115400/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-4-players-place-4-on-injured-reserve . September 15, 2021 . September 16, 2021 . NewYorkJets.com.
- Web site: Cimini . Rich . July 27, 2022 . New York Jets move slimmer Mekhi Becton to right tackle; George Fant to play left tackle . May 25, 2023 . ESPN.com . en.
- Web site: Williams . Charean . August 16, 2022 . Jets place Mekhi Becton on injured reserve after knee surgery, ending his season . May 31, 2023 . ProFootballTalk . en-US.
- Web site: Eagles sign Mekhi Becton to a 1-year contract . April 29, 2024. PhiladelphiaEagles.com . en-US.
