BEAUMONT, Texas – The recent decisions to cancel the remainder of the 2020 spring athletics schedule left a void for sports fans across the country. LamarCardinals.com thought it would be a great time to look back at some of the great moments, athletes and coaches that have helped Lamar University stand out in the competition arena. Over the course of the coming days and weeks, LamarCardinals.com will be posting stories – in no particular order – reliving some of these great moments.
Beaumont Native Becomes All-Time Leading Receiver
A graduate of Beaumont's West Brook High School, Reggie Begelton came to Lamar University prior to the 2011 football season – which was LU's second season back on the gridiron. Begelton redshirted his first season with the Cardinals and his second season saw him play in all 12 games with eight starts hauling in a respectable 21 passes for 172 yards and catching at least one pass in every game.
What most fans didn't realize at the time was the 21 receptions for 172 yards was just the tip of the iceberg for what would go down as one of the best careers for a receiver in the LU Red and White.
Begelton came back even stronger during his sophomore season garnering second-team All-Southland Conference honors after setting an LU single-season record with 82 receptions. He led the league averaging nearly 7.0 reception per game and ranked among the league's top 10 in receiving yards (858/71.5 pg) and touchdown receptions.
By career's end, Begelton would go on to be a three-time All-Southland Conference selection, wrapping up his career with first-team honors in 2015. For his career, he played in 46 games earning 39 starts while hauling in 227 passes for 2,435 yards and 20 touchdowns. He finished is stellar career as the school's all-time leading receptions and receiving yards and finished second all-time in TD receptions by only one (to another Golden Triangle standout Mark Roberts). Begelton also set the LU single-game record for receptions with 18 which came during his sophomore season.
After graduation, Begelton went on to play in the Canadian Football League where he was a standout with the Calgary Stampeders. During his three seasons with the Stampeders, he hauled in 149 passes for 2,236 yards and 12 touchdowns. He posted career highs of 102 catches for 1,444 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019 and was named team MVP. This coming on the heels of the 2018 season which saw Begelton help lead Calgary to the Grey Cup – the CFL's version of the Super Bowl.
Begelton's career has taken another step forward following the 2019 season. Begelton's performance north of the border caught the eye of NFL scouts and Begelton was signed to a reserve/futures contract by the Green Bay Packers in January.
Please continue to check back with LamarCardinals.com as we continue to update more Great Moments in Cardinals History.
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