Antoine Bethea

Bethea emerged from the shadows of former heralded teammate Ronald Bartell with another stellar performance as a senior. The 2005 season not only marked the third consecutive year that he led the team in tackles, but was also the third consecutive year he was selected to the American Urban Radio Network 2005 Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College All-American team.  He is one of only four honorees to earn that honor three times in a career, joining Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair (Tennessee), Howard University linebacker Tracy White (Green Bay) and Savannah State receiver Shannon Sharpe (formerly of Denver Broncos, now a CBS analyst). Bethea was a standout defensive back, lettering three times at Denbigh High School, where he also lettered in basketball. He earned All-Area and All-Conference honors his senior year, but was not heavily recruited by the major colleges. He enrolled at Howard University, where he appeared in five games as a reserve free safety in 2002, but managed only thirteen tackles (seven solos). He shifted to strong safety in 2002, earning All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference and All-American honors in 2003. He led the team with a career-high 109 tackles (71 solos), including a sack and four stops for losses. He recovered two fumbles, returning one for a score, caused three fumbles and blocked a punt that he returned for a touchdown. Bethea was again named All-American and All-MEAC as a junior. He returned to free safety in 2004, leading the Bison with 99 tackles (60 solos), adding two sacks and six stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also caused four fumbles, deflected eight passes and intercepted three others. Bethea followed with 88 tackles (40 solos), four interceptions and six pass breakups in his final season. In 37 games at Howard, Bethea started 31 times. He recorded 309 tackles (187 solos) with three sacks for minus-26 yards and twelve stops for losses of 63 yards. He caused seven fumbles and recovered two others, returning one 26 yards for a score. He also gained 40 yards on seven interceptions, batted away eighteen passes and returned a blocked punt 26 yards for a touchdown.

positives

Has broad shoulders, good arm muscle definition, good bubble and the balance and body control to accelerate quickly to the ball...Has exceptional closing quickness and loose hips to turn and run on the ball coming out of his backpedal... Shows good hand usage to reroute tight ends and backs at the line of scrimmage...Breaks on the ball quickly and recognizes routes playing in the zone...Has a consistent burst to close and does a good job of sifting through traffic to locate the ball...Has the range to make plays along the sidelines and does a good job of timing his leaps to compete for the ball in the air...Will knock down more passes than he catches, but gets into good position to make the play (lacks valid hands though)...Uses his size well in run force and will deliver good pop on contact...Does a good job of keeping his pads down and shoulders square to wrap and secure...Big hitter who is very effective at attacking the ballcarrier and stripping the ball...Makes the secondary calls and does the little extras to improve, spending additional hours in the film and weight rooms.

bethea is a well-built safety who can not only deliver crunching tackles, but has the speed and athletic ability to cover speedy receivers through their routes. he is effective playing the press and also shows the cover-2 skills to make plays inside the box. he has a smooth backpedal and good hip flip to turn and run on the ball.

Bethea does a very good job of planting and coming back to the ball, showing the burst on balls in front of him. In man coverage, he is best in a shadow or trail technique, but needs to stay more on the receiver rather than trying to attack the ball. In playing the bump, he has the strength and aggressive nature to consistently reroute the receiver.

in the zone, bethea shows good awareness and instinct and recognizes routes, but does get a little out of control at times. he can read the quarterback and make some plays on the ball in flight, but will get caught out of position and be fooled by play-action.

Bethea has very good speed to run deep with the receiver. When he is not challenged much, he can get get lazy vs. the run and can be a little slow to come up and support, but when he locates the ball, he uses his hands well to prevent from being blocked too long.

negatives

Has good field vision and can locate the ball working through traffic, but gets over aggressive in his play and gets caught out of position too much, especially when biting on play-action...Can turn and run on the ball, but sometimes prefers to attack it rather than stay tight with the receiver on deep routes, losing containment...Does not have ideal height, so he needs to time his leaps properly to get to the ball at its high point...Has stone hands and will double catch and bobble several easy interceptions, resulting in pass deflections instead.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.5 in the 40-yard dash

320-pound bench press

Squats 315 pounds 20 times

275-pound power clean

Right-handed

Wears contacts

18/49 Wonderlic score. Combine: 4.42 in the 40-yard dash

2.57 20-yard dash

1.53 10-yard dash

Bench presses 225 pounds 19 times

36.5-inch vertical jump

10'7" broad jump

4.11 20-yard shuttle

11.66 60-yard shuttle

6.99 three-cone drill

30 5/8-inch arm length

9 1/8-inch hands.

Attended Denbigh (Newport News, Va.) High School, playing football for head coach A.C. Cauthorn

Standout defensive back, lettering three times in football and also lettered in basketball

Earned All-Area and All-Conference honors his senior year.

Administration of Justice major

Born 7/27/84

Resides in Newport News, Virginia.