Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – Facing the Graham Beckman-led Liberty High offense was an unenviable task for opposing defenses last season.

Beckman showed impressive polish in his first season as the full-time starting quarterback for the Lightning last fall flashing an impressive blend of athleticism, accuracy and playmaking.

Here is a scary thought for 2023 Liberty High opponents – Beckman was just scratching the surface last season.

“His ownership of the system we use and his knowledge of what we are doing, he’s gotten that much deeper into that, he’s that much more confident in it,” Liberty High head coach James Harris said. “I told him ‘you’ve got the keys to the Aston Martin that is the Liberty offense you have to take this’. I think he’s grown in that.”

Given his success last season a more confident, more knowledgeable Beckman is certainly a chilling thought for future opponents.

As a junior Beckman was among the best in the state, completing 63 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,580 yards and 31 touchdowns to just four interceptions.

Those are efficient numbers for any quarterback, let a long a first-year starter.

This offseason Beckman dove into the playbook to gain a greater understanding of the offense and where he could thrive.

“I tried to work on the things I was hesitant on, reading coverages and accuracy those were the two big things,” Beckman said. “It was just going deeper into the playbook and deeper into reads.”

Beckman was a big part of the best season in Liberty High history last season, leading the Lightning to a 9-2 record and the first playoff win in program history.

In addition to his passing numbers Beckman rushed for a 320 yards and four touchdowns.

“A big thing for me last year was just learning the game,” Beckman said. “The seniors last year really helped me get into that role and coach (Mitch) Wieland and coach (Scott) Chandler helped me along the way and then it was just trusting myself to know that I could play the environment that we are playing in.”

Now a senior captain, Beckman knows he needs to be even better in all aspects to help Liberty High navigate through its first season in Class 5A.

“Being a senior you have to take on that leadership role and then being a quarterback it’s one of the traits that you have to focus on, keeping everyone together as a family,” Beckman said. “I got the opportunity to be a captain this year too and that adds to that leadership role.”

Beckman spent the offseason sharpening things mentally as well as physically.

The 6-foot-1, 194-pounder enters his final prep season bigger, faster and equally as important with a better understanding of the Lightning offense.

“He’s not satisfied with being good,” Harris said. “Some guys are happy being the strongest kid in the room and he’s always seeking what he can do to get better and he actively seeks that feedback.”

Between his work ethic off the field and his production on it the leadership role has come natural for Beckman.

With the loss of a large group of talented seniors from last year’s 9-2 season Beckman has seen his leadership duties elevate.

“We always talk about with all the things we do if your character is good that’s going to raise everything else up as well and that’s one of things with Graham,” Harris said. “He’s a 4.2 student, he volunteers, he’s a great work ethic, he’s the first guy there, he’s the last guy to leave and he’s always hungry to get better.”

The Beckman-led Liberty High offense was balanced in 2022 with five players catching at least 23 passes.

All five of those players graduated last spring leaving Beckman with a relatively inexperience group of pass catchers this fall.

The senior quarterback has liked what he has seen so far from that group that includes juniors Collin Decker (6-3, 190) and Dallas Miller (5-10, 160) and senior Cody Nichols (6-1, 175).

“They are different receivers than last year but they definitely have some talent,” Beckman said. “Cody is really fast, Colin is a big body and Dallas in the slot learned a lot from Garrett (Gregoire) last year. That group has been really good.”

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