Anthony Becht

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anthony Becht
Date of birth August 8, 1977 (age 29)
Place of birth Flag of United States Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Position(s) Tight end
College West Virginia
NFL Draft 2000 / Round 1/ Pick 27
Statistics
Team(s)
2000-2004
2005-Present
New York Jets
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Anthony Becht (born August 8, 1977 in Drexel Hill , Pennsylvania) is a tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the 1st round of the 2000 NFL Draft out of West Virginia University, but now plays for the Buccaneers since 2005.

[edit] Collegiate Career

Anthony, a graduate of Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, was 6'5" and 205 pounds coming out of high school. Not many shools were looking at him, except for West Virginia, who recruited him as a tight end. At the end of Becht's career, he ranked second among tight ends at the school with 83 catches for 1,173 yards, a 14.1 avgerage of yards per catch, and 10 TDs. Becht was an honorable mention for All-American as a senior and was named second-team All-Big East as a junior and senior, along with being team captain and MVP.

[edit] Professional Career

As a rookie in 2000 for the Jets, Becht played in 14 games, missing two due to an ankle sprain. He was a starter for 10 games and totaled 16 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns on the season. Becht ranked third among the rookie tight ends with receptions, behind Green Bay's Bubba Franks and Cleveland's Aaron Shea.

In 2001, Becht started all 16 games and recorded 36 receptions for 321 yards and five TDs. He tied former Jets' tight end Kyle Brady for the most receptions by an American Conference tight end. His five scores were only beat by Colts' Marcus Pollard and Chiefs' Tony Gonzalez. Becht recorded consecutive game-winning touchdown catches in weeks 13 and 14.

In 2002, Becht once again starter all 16 games and tallied 28 receptions, 243 yards, and a career-high tying five scores. Becht caught one pass for eight yards and served as a key blocker in the 41-0 win over the Colts in the AFC Wild Card playoff game and recorded three receptions for 14 yards in the AFC Divisional Playoff loss at Oakland.

In 2003, Becht set career-highs of 40 receptions for 356 yards and he included four TD catches while starting all sixteen games once again. Becht caught a career-best six passes, including a one-yard touchdown, and gained 32 yards at Miami in the season finale.

As his final season as a Jet in 2004, Becht had a career-low 13 receptions, for also lows of 100 yards and only 1 touchdown. In New York, Becht totaled 1,146 yards receiving with 17 touchdowns off of 133 receptions.

In his first year in Tampa Bay in 2005, Becht recorded 16 receptions, much like his rookie year, 112 yards but no touchdowns as his career began to slide downward. Becht competed with rookie Alex Smith for the tight end spot, who the Bucs picked up in the NFL Draft.

In 2006, Becht saw himself being replaced by the rookie, Smith. Still, Becht grabbed 18 receptions for 115 yards and a score from mainly rookie Bruce Gradkowski.