UWRF All-American Ben Beise signs with NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers - University of Wisconsin River Falls Athletics (2024)

Russ Gamache

TAMPA BAY, Fla.– Former University of Wisconsin-River Falls football All-American tight end Ben Beise (Loretto, Minn.) signed an undrafted free agent contract with the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be added to the team's 90-man preseason roster.

Beisewill participate in the Buccaneersrookie mini-camp May 13-14.The rookie mini-camp includes first-year players, draftees, undrafted free agents, tryout players and last season's practice squad players.The NFL has announced that the2022 NFL schedule will be releasedon Thursday, May 12, for the Buccaneers and 31 other teams.

"I cannot put into words how proud I am of Ben," said UWRF football head coach Matt Walker."No one has worked harder than him ordeserves this more than him. He has positively impacted more peoplein our program than probably any player that I have ever had."

A2021 AFCAFirst Team All-American, Beisecompiled 414 all-purpose yards with three rushing and one receiving touchdowns, helping lead UWRF to a record-breaking 2021 season.During the 2021 season finale and his final game as a Falcon versus Washington University-St. Louis in the inaugural Culver's Isthmus Bowl, Beiseran for a touchdown and collected atwo-point conversion reception, helping the Falcons earn the most wins since 1996 with a 9-2 record.

He garnered All-WIAC First Team honors as a tight end and Second Team laurels as an all-purpose back, along with D3football.com Second Team All-Region recognition.

Originally a quarterback, Beise converted to tight end and didn't see action until his junior year in 2019 before his breakout 2021 season. After a 2020 COVID-19 canceled season, he returned for a fifth season and caught 38 passes for 358 yards along with 93 rushing yards, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. UWRF had the top scoring and rushing offense in the WIAC.

"Obviously, his talent and football ability are amazing, but I promise you that every player and coach would tell you that Benis an even a better person," Walker commented."His commitment to being a great teammate and leading by example was one of the most powerful influences in our program. He is the hardest worker in practice, hardest worker in weight room, and the hardest worker outside of the building with nutrition and training his body. Iknow that he will give himself every opportunity to succeed."

In the classroom, Beiseisa three-timeWIACScholastic Honor Roll memberand completed his degree in Agricultural Engineering Technologywith a 3.11 GPA in December of 2021.

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