Mekhi Becton
No. 77 – New York Jets
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1999-04-18) April 18, 1999
Highland Springs, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:363 lb (165 kg)
Career information
High school:Highland Springs
College:Louisville (2017–2019)
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 2023
Games played:25
Games started:24
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Mekhi Becton (born April 18, 1999) is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisville and was selected by the Jets in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Early life and high school career

Becton attended Highland Springs High School in Richmond, Virginia. He was regarded as a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 43 offensive tackle and No. 405 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite.[1] Becton was recruited by 31 schools to play football, but by February 1, 2017, National Signing Day, he had narrowed the choice to five schools: Louisville, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Michigan, and Oregon.[2] While he had been heavily recruited by Virginia, he ultimately chose Louisville on signing day.[2][3]

College career

Becton played as a freshman in the 2017 season. During his freshman year, Becton played in 13 games and started 11 for the Cardinals at the tackle position. During the first 4 games of the season, Becton was the highest rated freshman in the country by Pro Football Focus, and during the 7 he was the best pass-blocker in the ACC, allowing only 6 pressures in 312 snaps.[4]

Becton was named a starting tackle for the 2018 season and started every game, bringing his total number of games started to 23 by the end of the season.[5] Becton was again named a starting tackle for the 2019 season.[5] He received first team All-ACC honors after the conclusion of the regular season. Becton decided to forgo his senior season and sit out Louisville's bowl game, and declared for the 2020 NFL Draft.[6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitBench pressWonderlic
6 ft 7+3⁄8 in
(2.02 m)		 364 lb
(165 kg)		 35+5⁄8 in
(0.90 m)		 10+3⁄4 in
(0.27 m)		5.10 s1.77 s2.94 s23 reps15
All values from NFL Combine[7]

Becton was selected in the first round with the 11th overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft.[8]

On September 12, 2021, Becton suffered an apparent knee injury and was carted off the field. It was revealed that Becton had suffered cartilage damage, which required surgery, putting him out for 4–6 weeks.[9] He was placed on injured reserve on September 14, 2021.[10]

On July 27, 2022, after George Fant was moved to left tackle, Becton was shifted to right tackle.[11] On August 8, during training camp, Becton was diagnosed with an avulsion fracture of his right kneecap. Eight days later, the Jets placed him on injured reserve, and he missed the entire season.[12]

Regular season

Legend
First Team All-Pro
No type penalty
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Offense
GPGSSnapsPctHoldingFalse StartDecl/PenAcpt/Pen
2020NYJ 141369181%0516
2021NYJ 114874%0101
2022NYJ did not play due to injury
2023NYJ 9955799%0435
Career24231,29685%010412

References

  1. ↑ "Mekhi Becton, Highland Springs, Offensive Tackle". 247Sports.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Barber, Mike (September 21, 2018). "Louisville's Mekhi Becton, the one that got away, plays at UVA on Saturday". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Berkshire Hathaway. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ Jones, Steve (August 26, 2017). "Louisville football | Massive freshman OL Mekhi Becton grows into a potential star". The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  4. ↑ Lourim, Jake (November 8, 2017). "Mekhi Becton, Louisville's 350-pound freshman, has lived up to the hype". The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  5. 1 2 McCammon, Michael (August 5, 2019). "Trimmer, faster Mekhi Becton leading Louisville offensive line". 247Sports.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ Demling, Jody (December 16, 2019). "Louisville OL Mekhi Becton to turn pro; won't play in bowl game". 247sports.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Mekhi Becton Combine Profile". NFL.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  8. ↑ Costello, Brian (April 23, 2020). "Jets select Mekhi Becton with No. 11 pick in NFL Draft". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  9. ↑ McGavic, Matthew (September 13, 2021). "Report: OT Mekhi Becton Out 4-6 Weeks Following Knee Surgery". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  10. ↑ Greenberg, Ethan; Allen, Eric (September 14, 2021). "Jets Sign 4 Players; Place 4 on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  11. ↑ Cimini, Rich (July 27, 2022). "New York Jets move slimmer Mekhi Becton to right tackle; George Fant to play left tackle". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  12. ↑ Williams, Charean (August 16, 2022). "Jets place Mekhi Becton on injured reserve after knee surgery, ending his season". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
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