Santonio Beard (February 14, 1980 – February 5, 2022) was an American

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

player who was a

running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offense ...

for the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...

. He left just after his junior season in 2002. Beard's most productive season came in 2002 after the exit of

Ahmaad Galloway Ahmaad Galloway (March 10, 1980 – January 9, 2023) was an American football coach and running back. College career Galloway played four years at the University of Alabama. He wore number 29 to honor his former high school teammate, Mario R ...

due to injury. Beard rushed for close to 900 yards his junior season, despite splitting carries with former Crimson Tide running back

Shaud Williams Shaud Rashae Williams (born October 2, 1980) is an American college football coach and former running back. He is the head strength and conditioning coach for Mississippi State University, a position he has held since 2024. Originally from Andre ...

. He currently shares a University of Alabama record for the most touchdowns in a single game with five. He is tied with NFL running back

Shaun Alexander Shaun Edward Alexander (born August 30, 1977) is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Alaba ...

and wide receiver

DeVonta Smith DeVonta Smith ( ; born November 14, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he recorded over 1,800 ...

. This feat was achieved in 2002 against the

University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi (Epithet, byname Ole Miss) is a Public university, public research university in University, near Oxford, Mississippi, United States, with a University of Mississippi Medical Center, medical center in Jackson, Miss ...

. Beard's most notable game came against the

Auburn Tigers The Auburn Tigers are the athletic teams representing Auburn University, a public four-year university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. The Auburn Tigers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) a ...

in 2001, in which he and

rushed for close to 300 yards combined. This led to the Crimson Tide's second victory against Auburn University at

Jordan–Hare Stadium Pat Dye Field at Jordan–Hare Stadium (properly pronounced as ) is an American football stadium in Auburn, Alabama on the campus of Auburn University. It primarily serves as the home venue of the Auburn Tigers football, Auburn Tigers football ...

Professional career

After coach

Dennis Franchione Dennis Wayne Franchione (born March 28, 1951) is an American former college football coach. He is the former head football coach at Texas State University–San Marcos, Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school ...

's departure, Beard decided to forgo his senior year. However, he was undrafted and signed with the B.C. Lions of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

. He played for the

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...

but was cut after the first season.

Life after football

After his football career ended, Beard encountered numerous legal problems, often involving illegal drugs. Beard was shot dead in Lithonia, Georgia, on February 5, 2022, at the age of 41.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beard, Santonio 1980 births 2022 deaths Denver Broncos players Alabama Crimson Tide football players American football running backs Players of American football from Nashville, Tennessee Deaths by firearm in Georgia (U.S. state)