Former Hilltopper defensive back and Bowling Green native Ryan Beard will enter his second season as a defensive graduate assistant on the Hilltopper football staff.

Beard excelled on the defensive side of the ball during his playing days at WKU, appearing in 34 games over his career, registering 170 career tackles, including a career-best 71 stops during his junior campaign in 2010. 

Beard intercepted three passes during his career on the Hill, with all three coming during his redshirt freshman season.

Beard was a standout high school player at Bowling Green High School, lettering all four years on the Gridiron for the Purples. Beard was instrumental in Bowling Green’s run to the Class 3A state title game in each of his last two years, as the team posted a record of 48-6 during his four-year career. Beard was selected to play in the Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Game following his senior season, while also earning all-state honors following both his junior and senior seasons.