Former Vols player begins path to a career in the WWE
Former Tennessee Vols running back Dee Beckwith appears to be on the path to beginning a career in the WWE. Beckwith, who transferred to Kentucky after the 2021 season, was announced on Thursday as one of 15 collegiate athletes who will take part in the company's "award-winning NIL program". According to the release from WWE, […]
Former Tennessee Vols running back Dee Beckwith appears to be on the path to beginning a career in the WWE.
Beckwith, who transferred to Kentucky after the 2021 season, was announced on Thursday as one of 15 collegiate athletes who will take part in the company's "award-winning NIL program".
According to the release from WWE, the program "provides a clear pathway from collegiate athletics to WWE".
Here's a little more about the program from WWE's release:
The “Next In Line” program has signed 46 college athletes since its inception in December 2021 including the program’s first signee, Olympic Gold medalist Gable Steveson. The program serves to recruit and develop potential future Superstars and further enhances WWE’s talent development process through collaborative partnerships with college athletes from diverse athletic backgrounds. WWE has signed athletes from 13 different sports including 35 members of Power-Five conferences who have collectively earned 40 NCAA All American Honors and 12 NCAA National Championships.
All athlete partnerships feature access to the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., in addition to resources across the organization including brand building, media training, communications, live event promotion, creative writing and community relations. Upon completion of the NIL program, select athletes may earn an exclusive opportunity to be offered a WWE contract.
Beckwith, an Alabama native, spent two seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Kentucky. During his time as a Vol, he had four rushes for 27 yards.
This past season at Kentucky, Beckwith carried the ball five times for 21 yards.
If Beckwith, who is 6-foot-5, earns a WWE contract through this program, he'll join former Tennessee athletes Kevin Nash (basketball) and Bianca Belair (track) as WWE employees (Nash is on a "legends contract").
Featured image via USA TODAY Sports
