Tiger Bech, Former Princeton CFB Player, Killed in New Orleans Truck Attack
Jan 1, 2025
MOBILE, AL - FEBRUARY 01: A general view of Princeton helmet during the Reese's Senior Bowl American team practice session on February 1, 2023 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Former Princeton University football player Tiger Bech was among the people killed by a person who drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in the early morning hours of New Year's Day on Wednesday.
According to ESPN's Mark Schlabach, Bech's father, Martin Bech, and Princeton head football coach Bob Surace confirmed Bech's death.
Princeton Football mourns the loss of Tiger Bech ‘21.
Bech's brother, former TCU wide receiver Jack Bech, posted the following on X regarding Tiger's death:
Love you always brother ! You inspired me everyday now you get to be with me in every moment. I got this family T, don’t worry. This is for us ❤️ https://t.co/8sSFf564Mb
Bech played at Princeton from 2016 to 2018, recording 53 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns as a wide receiver. He also twice earned All-Ivy League Second Team honors as a return specialist.
The Tigers won a pair of Ivy League titles during Bech's tenure in both 2016 and 2018.
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Bech would have turned 28 on Jan. 28. While he recently began working as a stockbroker in New York, he was visiting family in New Orleans for the holidays.
Per CNN, the Bourbon Street attack occurred at around 3:15 a.m. local time when a truck drove through a crowd, killing at least 10 and injuring 35 others.
Authorities said the driver got out of the vehicle and fired gunshots at police officers before getting shot and killed. The FBI said "weapons and a potential IED" were found inside the truck and "other potential IEDs" were found near the scene.
The FBI identified 42-year-old Texas man Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the suspect and announced that it considered the attack "an act of terrorism."
The College Football Playoff quarterfinal and Sugar Bowl between second-seeded Georgia and seventh-seeded Notre Dame was scheduled to be played Wednesday night at 8:45 p.m. ET at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, but the game was postponed until Thursday as a result of the attack.
Andrei Iosivas NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Princeton WR
Apr 15, 2023
PROVIDENCE, RI - OCTOBER 16: Andrei Iosivas #9 of the Princeton Tigers runs for a touchtown after making a catch against the Brown Bears at Brown Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 205
HAND: 8¾"
ARM: 32"
WINGSPAN: N/A
40-YARD DASH: 4.43
3-CONE: 6.85
SHUTTLE: 4.12
VERTICAL: 39"
BROAD: 10'8"
POSITIVES
— Great acceleration and speed.
— Good stop/start ability. Flashes snappiness as a route-runner.
— Overall smooth mover. Doesn't lumber or look clunky.
— Quality ball-tracking and hands in the open field. Won't be an issue at next level.
NEGATIVES
— Poor play strength. Has issues fighting through contact during the route.
— Poor ability to play the ball in the air. Not a vertical or contested-catch winner.
— Below-average YAC despite high-end speed. Lacks explosiveness and balance.
— Out-of-control route-runner. Regularly loses his footing and plays with poor tempo.
2023 STATISTICS
— 10 G, 66 REC, 943 YDS (14.3), 7 TD
NOTES
— DOB: October 15, 1999
— Unrated recruit in 2018
— Started for two seasons
— 2021 second-team All-Ivy League, 2022 first-team All-Ivy League
— 2022 All-American in the heptathlon at Princeton
OVERALL
Andrei Iosivas is an intriguing size/speed project who will need to improve his technique and physicality to make the leap from Ivy League to NFL.
Speed is the name of the game for Iosivas. A heptathlete at Princeton, Iosivas shows off that speed on the football field. When given a cushion, he screams off the line and picks up steam in a hurry, reaching a top velocity that can make any defensive back antsy.
Iosivas also has nasty stop/start ability, which allows him to have some great reps on sharp route breaks. The consistency is not there yet because of his approach and footwork, but the reps where Iosivas does come to an instant halt and explode out are impressive.
He is also a comfortable catcher on the move in space. He doesn't strain to find the ball or double-clutch, allowing him to fluidly transition into YAC mode.
On the other hand, Iosivas may face a difficult transition to NFL physicality. He struggled to fight through contact as a route-runner at Princeton. It wasn't very hard for cornerbacks to get in his face and disrupt him. He also showed little ability to go up for the ball in traffic despite his size. NFL cornerbacks are only going to be bigger and stronger, so Iosivas needs to make a major leap to address that.
Additionally, Iosivas will need to take to pro coaching as it pertains to route running. All the physical tools are there, but he's inconsistent. The Ivy League product needs to more cleanly get in and out of his breaks, which would help open his route tree beyond simple vertical routes. Luckily that can be fixed with time.
Iosivas is a nice Day 3 dice roll on a burner thanks to his solid size, game-changing speed and passable ball skills. Whoever drafts him needs to understand that adjusting to the physicality of the game and ironing out his routes to an NFL standard may take a season or two.
White is one of the nation's top quarterbacks in the 2018 class. He is a 3-star prospect ranked as the No. 5 quarterback from California, No. 16 quarterback in the country and No. 338 player overall, per Scout.com.
In 2016, when Scout.com first offered a report on White's potential, it was very promising about his future: "He's solid mechanically, very accurate with all his throws, has good pocket mobility and is a very tough kid."
The biggest concern for White right now is size, particularly weight. He entered his senior season rail thin at 185 pounds on a 6'2" frame. College defenders don't even have to hit him square to break him in half right now.
But as long as White is working with the right coaching staff that can get him on a training regimen to add mass without losing any of the traits that make him such a gifted quarterback, he will be terrific very soon.
Conventional wisdom with prized recruits is to expect instant results because it's hard to tell a fanbase that it needs to wait before seeing the fruits of a coaching staff's labor.
White may surprise everyone by getting his body better conditioned to handle the rigors of college football right out of the gate, but even if it takes a year before he's starting, it will be worth it because there aren't many quarterbacks with his raw physical gifts.
Mason Darrow, Princeton OL, Comments on Coming out as Gay
Sep 16, 2015
Two years after revealing to his teammates that he is gay, Princeton University offensive lineman Mason Darrow came out publicly Tuesday as part of a profile by Cyd Zeigler of OutSports.com.
According to Zeigler, Darrow made the decision to go public in an effort to empower other gay football players. After attempting to hide his sexual orientation for so long, he felt a great deal of relief after he came out to teammate Caleb Slate in 2013.
"Telling my teammates was the best decision I have ever made," Darrow said.
The Lake Barrington, Illinois, native essentially posed as a straight man for quite some time due to his fear that being gay didn't fit with the football culture, per Zeigler.
"I felt like I had to keep appearances up," Darrow said. "I didn't want to arouse suspicion that I might be gay, so I went along with the flow and did what I thought was expected of me."
Darrow, who is now a junior offensive tackle for the FCS school, was originally reluctant to tell anyone because he wasn't sure if he would be accepted, according to Zeigler.
"I felt trapped. I wasn't happy. I wanted to tell people, but I thought there would be a lot of animosity," Darrow said. "There are a lot of guys from the South on the team. I wasn't sure how people would react to it."
His teammates have been extremely supportive since he came out, with defensive back Dorian Williams among them:
Former University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam famously came out as gay following his time at Mizzou in 2014, but Darrow is currently the only openly gay player in Division I football, per Zach Barnett of College Football Talk.
Darrow showed a great deal of courage by deciding to live openly despite his previous reservations, and the fact that it has worked out so well for him could encourage anyone else considering doing the same thing.
2014 NFL Draft: Full Breakdown of Caraun Reid's Game
Jan 23, 2014
Princeton Tigers Caraun Reid #11 is seen on the sidelines against the Yale Bulldogs during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, November 16, 2013, in Princeton, NJ. Princeton won the game, and the Ivy League title, 59-23. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Princeton's Caraun Reid is a really intriguing NFL draft prospect, if only because the esteemed Ivy League University is not exactly known for churning out pro-caliber prospects.
I have already done a few scouting reports on some big names (Johnny Manziel, Eric Ebron, Shayne Skov), but now I'm going to switch gears a little bit and do a series on a few small-school players who have a chance to surprise some people and be good NFL players.
Because most of these prospects will be virtually unknowns, these breakdowns will be just as much about the player and his background as it will be about actually analyzing his film.
Reid is a dynamic interior defensive lineman who has been really impressing some people at the Senior Bowl this week.
Let's take a look and find out what makes him such a good prospect.
Background
This article goes into further detail about Reid's personal history, but I'll try to summarize some of the key points that encompass his interesting background. Reid was born in the Bronx to a pastor father and minister mother.
He did not begin playing football until high school, when he began as a freshman at Mount St. Michael Academy. By his senior year, there were several Ivy League schools inquiring about his services.
Reid chose Princeton and has really immersed himself in a variety of school activities. He's part of an a cappella group on campus (and has an incredible voice) and is also on the executive board of the school's Christian Faith in Action group.
When he pulled out of school for a semester to preserve his eligibility, Reid took a job as a student aide at Princeton Day School's Lower School. Clearly, he's an interesting, intelligent, and well-rounded person.
But on top of all that, Reid is a football player. And a pretty darn good one.
Good enough that, despite playing against relatively weak competition at one of the world's most rigorous academic institutions, he became the second Princeton player ever to be invited to the Senior Bowl and is considered a potential mid-round pick in May's draft.
Why is Reid being considered an NFL prospect? Let's take a look at what makes this defensive tackle so special on the field.
Measurables
One of the big perks of playing in the Senior Bowl is the weigh-in and measurement process. Even though this happens again at the combine, the Senior Bowl events can give players some time to adjust themselves and try to cover their weaknesses while using their strengths that show up on the scale and/or ruler.
Just a few days ago, we got a look at how big Reid actually is. He measured in at 6'2 1/8", 301 pounds and apparently looked really stout and well-built for a 300-plus pound guy.
He also had 32 5/8" long arms, which is more than adequate, especially for a guy who is only about 6'2".
This is exactly the kind of frame that teams would have been hoping to see, and while it doesn't sway his draft stock dramatically, it certainly gave him another check mark on scouts' reports.
Reid utilizes this frame to be destructive in defending both the pass and run.
Run Stopping
Reid is a force up the middle. He isn't big enough and does not play like a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, but relies a little more on finesse, hand technique and sheer determination.
There's a lot of promise in Reid's ability to stuff the run despite him not being an enormous, immovable hole-filler like many NFL defensive tackles are.
Reid consistently shows the ability to diagnose a play and figure out his best point of attack. From that point, he uses great leverage and violent hands to win position and make the stop.
One flaw is that he at times can be slow off the snap and therefore doesn't get any push into the backfield. This is a correctable issue, however, and is not prevalent enough to be an extreme concern.
Reid's ability to stuff the middle is particularly impressive because of his lack of bulk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igeMVgO5CLw,374
On this play, he drives the guard into the middle of the field, keeping his eyes in the backfield, and then sheds the blocker right as he meets the running back.
Reid is strong enough to be able to absorb that contact and then hold his ground to help make the tackle, which isn't surprising given the impressive physique he showed at the Senior Bowl weigh-in.
He isn't overly consistent against the run, however, and we have to keep in mind that these offensive linemen he's facing are a lot smaller (and just not as good) as the guys in the NFL. But he still seems to have a lot of the fundamentals and abilities that teams look for in a defensive tackle.
So while he isn't perfect against the run, he's certainly adequate. But Reid's biggest asset is really his ability to rush the quarterback.
Pass Rush
Reid thrives when he's given the green light to get into the backfield and disrupt the passer. He's an absolute terror who utilizes a number of different moves to beat his blockers.
This talent has helped him be a three-time All-Ivy League selection and rack up 20.5 sacks over his collegiate career. There are a number of ways Reid makes an impact in the passing game.
On some plays, Reid is able to just get a great jump off the snap, use his strong lower body and bull rush. This works especially well when he lines up against a tackle.
While he does have the capability to use a traditional bull rush, where he gets underneath his blocker, stays low and churns his legs to drive the blocker backwards, Reid is also explosive enough to use a unique type of punch that helps him create separation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igeMVgO5CLw,107
On this play, Reid literally just shoves the tackle backwards and then showcases his athleticism (more on that later) to get after the quarterback.
His tenacity, along with his natural physical ability, is impressive. He also seems to have good awareness and knows when to employ certain moves and how to be as disruptive as possible.
His most effective move might be a type of rip to the inside, when he turns his outside shoulder in and bends through the inside of the offensive lineman.
These two plays show this move, one that Reid should try to develop and use even more in the NFL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kq_uCXs8K0,88
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kq_uCXs8K0,315
When he executes it correctly, he has the quickness, hands and strength to get in and take a direct route to the quarterback. It's especially effective when he sees a hole and can catch the offensive lineman a bit off balance, which happens in that first play.
There are other plays, like this one below, that showcase Reid's explosiveness out of his stance, as well as his determination to get to the quarterback.
Reid gets going in a hurry, literally just bounces the running back off him and then closes in on the quarterback before the poor guy even knows what happened.
It's plays like these that will make NFL teams really intrigued. That's the type of quickness and athleticism that cannot be taught.
Athleticism
I don't think Reid gets enough credit for his ability to simply make plays. He isn't huge, doesn't have elite quickness or strength yet is able to sniff out opportunities and make the most of them.
Some of that ability comes from good awareness and an even better motor. Plays like this show Reid's relentless pursuit of the ball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kq_uCXs8K0,76
Reid starts off in pass-rush mode, diagnoses the screen, changes direction, sheds a blocker and then makes a great tackle on the running back.
This combination of awareness, perseverance and quickness is on display throughout the game. This play is similar to the previous pass-rushing snap in which he gets a big push on the ball, but this one is even more impressive.
Not only does he drive the blocker (a guard this time) backwards with one big push, but then in the same motion gets his legs churning at the right angle to pursue the quarterback.
While it's not a necessarily useful statistic on its own, seven blocked kicks shows Reid's explosiveness and ability to penetrate. More than just being a high number, it shows that Reid has some raw strength and the ability to use leverage to get near the holder quickly and get his hands up to block the kick.
Watch both of these two kicks (on successive plays) and marvel at Reid's sheer determination and power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igeMVgO5CLw,204
While Reid's tape is impressive overall, perhaps no three consecutive plays encompasses his upside as a prospect as thoroughly as these three do.
In this game against Brown in 2012, Reid was an absolute animal and wreaked havoc on the offense all game. These three plays show three different facets of Reid's game and offer a good synopsis of what he can do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kq_uCXs8K0,150
On the first play, Reid uses flat-out quickness to get around the left tackle and hurry the quarterback.
On the second play, Reid uses a variation of that punch, bull-rush move I mentioned earlier and then turns it up a gear and pursues the quarterback to make the play.
On the final one, Reid hurries the quarterback again, this time using great hand technique and then maintaining leverage while driving the lineman backwards into his own quarterback.
Reid is undoubtedly a fine prospect, but where will he end up? That's a difficult question to answer, and the next few months will better determine teams who might be interested in him.
Projection
Reid is versatile enough to play either defensive end in a 3-4 or as a defensive tackle in a 4-3. I think he's better suited as a 3-4 DE, however, and that's where he did most of his damage in college.
NFL teams will be enamored by Reid's pedigree. His Princeton degree and well-rounded, humble background will make him a hit at interviews. But it won't necessarily boost his stock as much as it will just prevent him from falling, which can happen to players with off-the-field issues.
Teams will also like his physique, and he has apparently played well at the Senior Bowl. He will also have to be impressive at the combine, because although "tape don't lie," people will definitely question the competition Reid faced in the Ivy League.
In the end, I think there's definitely a little risk in taking Reid because of his lack of experience against top college players. But he seems like the kind of person and player who will work hard and do whatever it takes to develop into an NFL defensive lineman.
Reid will never be an elite difference-maker, but if a team is patient with him he could become a regular starter. Unless he has a really bad combine (which I don't anticipate), I think he'll be a fringe top-100 prospect and deserves a fourth-round grade.
Princeton Football: Standout Mike Catapano Drafted by Kansas City Chiefs
Apr 30, 2013
Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Mike Catapano will see his football career continue—on Sundays.
The young defensive end was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs with the first pick of the seventh round (207 overall) in the NFL draft on Saturday, April 27, making him the first Princeton University player drafted in a dozen years.
Originally considered questionable to be picked, Catapano would likely have gotten an undrafted free agent invite to an NFL camp following the draft, but the Princeton graduate had a good showing in the East-West Shrine Game and began to turn the heads of some NFL general managers.
Catapano may have also received the benefit of geography, as playing in Princeton, N.J., put him close to Philadelphia where former Eagles head man (and now Chiefs coach) Andy Reid had been working.
“I can’t even put it into words what this feels like," beamed Catapano in an interview (per Reid Ferrin on KCChiefs.com). "It’s been such a long road and to be taken by such a historic franchise in Kansas City, I can’t even put it into words right now honestly, I’m on cloud nine.”
Catapano was the Ivy League leader in sacks, forced three fumbles and amassed 41 tackles in the 2012 season. While he played defensive end at Princeton, he is considered on the smaller side at 6'3" and 271 pounds.
The Chiefs plan to use Catapano as a linebacker. It's a role that Catapano says he will welcome.
In addition to Catapano, two other Ivy League products were selected by NFL teams in this year's draft—J.C. Tretter of Cornell and Kyle Juszczyk of Harvard.
Princeton Finishes 5-5 for Season with 35-21 Loss to Ivy Rival Dartmouth
Nov 20, 2012
An otherwise upbeat season for the Princeton Tigers ended Saturday with a disappointing loss to the Dartmouth Big Green, 35-21, before a crowd of 8,327 at Princeton Stadium. It was the season-ending game for both clubs.
Princeton went up 7-0 in the second quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by QB Quinn Epperly. Three minutes later, the special teams put the Tigers ahead 14-0 when CB John Hill ran in a blocked punt.
But that's when Dartmouth took over the game, scoring five unanswered touchdowns, three on the arm of QB Dalyn Williams (20-of-35, 284 yards). Nine different receivers caught passes for the Big Green, who rolled up 338 yards passing in the contest.
Princeton's first-string QB Connor Michelsen did not play due to his shoulder injury, and while Quinn Epperly was 11-of-18 for 101 yards in the game, the Tigers' aerial attack clearly suffered. Dartmouth keyed on the Princeton rushers, holding them to 110 yards total. Epperly was Princeton's second-leading rusher with 32 yards, while leading rusher Will Powers ran the ball 10 times for 71 yards.
Wideouts Roman Wilson (4 receptions), Connor Kelley (3 receptions) and Seth DeValve (3 receptions) led Princeton receivers in the contest.
Princeton ends the season 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the Ivy League. For third-year head coach Bob Surace, the program took a significant step forward this year, as the Tigers had not won more than one game in each of the coach's first two seasons. Because of his efforts, Surace was named one of the 20 finalists for the prestigious Eddie Robinson Award, presented to the national coach of the year in FCS football.
"We absolutely made some dramatic improvements and I’m really proud of the guys,’’ said senior defensive captain Mike Catapano (as quoted by Paul Franklin of The Times on NJ.com). “We had some setbacks this year, some injuries, and this team never quit. This team really rallied together as a family and a brotherhood."
Dartmouth Visits Princeton for Final 2012 Ivy League Battle Against the Tigers
Nov 14, 2012
The 5-4 Dartmouth Big Green visit New Jersey on Saturday to close out their schedule against the 5-4 Princeton Tigers in the season-ending game for both clubs. The Tigers, who have shown marked progress this year under head coach Bob Surace, are currently in second place in the Ivy League with a conference record of 4-2. The Penn Quakers lead the Ivy League with a conference mark of 5-1.
Dartmouth has outscored its opponents 216 to 189 this season and has a red-zone scoring proficiency of 72 percent. Among their offensive weapons, the Big Green unleashes running back Dominick Pierre (805 yards, nine TDs), who has nearly four times as many yards as the next leading rusher on the team, QB Dalyn Williams.
In addition to his talent for running the football, Williams has been productive in the passing attack, having thrown four TDs this season without an interception. Starting QB Alex Park (112-of-179 for 1,370 yards and seven TDs) has an efficiency rating of 133.1 and averages an impressive 171.2 yards per game.
"Dartmouth is as good as any team in the league," said Princeton head coach Bob Surace (as quoted by Jay Greenberg on PrincetonTigersFootball.com). "They have only had the one league loss that wasn't in the final minutes.”
The Tigers may be without the services of starting quarterback Connor Michelsen on Saturday. Michelsen left the game last week with a shoulder injury, and his status for the game against Dartmouth remains questionable.
"If he can throw, he can play," concluded Surace about his quarterback (per Greenberg's column).
If their starter cannot go, the Tigers will turn to running QB Quinn Epperly, who has been most effective when utilized in the two-quarterback system with Michelsen this season. Dartmouth will no doubt key on the Princeton running attack in the game, forcing Epperly to throw the ball for a Tigers victory.
Game Time: Saturday, Nov. 17, 1:00pm, Princeton, N.J.
Princeton Tigers Travel to Yale and Earn Ivy Conference Victory
Nov 12, 2012
Yale's Grant Wallace pulled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Henry Furman to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter, but that would be the last points the Bulldogs would see. The Princeton Tigers then took complete control of the game and pummeled the Bulldogs 29-7 at the Yale Bowl.
A crowd of 21,824 watched the Tigers (5-4) amass 376 total yards and four unanswered touchdowns as Princeton improved its record to 4-2 in the Ivy League.
Yale was undoubtedly handicapped by the absence of starting running back Tyler Varga, but Mordecai Cargill (24 carries, 101 yards) filled his shoes admirably. The Bulldogs collectively rushed for 164 yards in the game.
"We did not know that their running back wasn't going to play," said surprised Princeton head coach Bob Surace regarding Varga (as quoted in the Yale University Athletics game summary on YaleBulldogs.com). "We prepared all week for the Wildcat."
Princeton tied the game 7-7 midway through the second quarter when Roman Wilson scored on a one-yard run. The TD was the culmination of a 10-play, 77-yard drive that had started on the Tigers' own 23.
Yale threatened to take the lead as the first half neared completion, but Tigers DB Trocon Davis intercepted a Mordecai Cargill pass at the Princeton goal line and raced 100 yards to put the Tigers ahead to stay. The interception was one of three turnovers committed by the Bulldogs in the game.
"They came out, to their credit, and jumped us really good," said Surace (per Yale Athletics' website). We kept fighting and fighting and fighting."
Princeton continued to put up points in the game, as QB Quinn Epperly ran the ball in from one yard out in the third quarter and also threw a nine-yard TD pass to Matt Costello in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
Epperly (5-of-10, 66 yards) was effective as a passer, but he was more effective running the ball, leading all Princeton rushers with 91 yards and a TD.
Starting quarterback Connor Michelsen (12-of-18, 126 yards) again effectively split time with Epperly, and the two combined to spread the ball to seven different receivers as they carved up the Yale defense for 192 yards through the air. The passing attack helped Princeton go 9-of-17 on third-down conversions in the game.
Sophomore wide receivers Seth DeValve and Connor Kelley led Princeton pass catchers with four receptions apiece.
The Tigers conclude their season next week when they host Dartmouth. Yale moves on to play long-time rival Harvard, who was defeated 30-21 by Penn.
