With the East-West Shrine Game finished, it’s now onto the NFL scouting combine … and beyond

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 | 3 p.m.

UNLV linebacker Jason Beauchamp blogged for the Las Vegas Sun the past two seasons, so now you can consider this the blogging version of overtime. He'll continue to submit blog entries leading up to the 2010 NFL draft in April, wrapping up his blog shortly after that. After posting a team highs in tackles (95), tackles for loss (12) and sacks (6.5) as a senior for the 5-7 Rebels, playing as a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end, he's trying now to make his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL become a reality.

Hello again, everyone.

I just recently got done with a week in Orlando for the 2010 East-West Shrine Game. Our West team lost, 13-10, but I took plenty away from it all.

The experience was huge, just because I've never been a part of anything like that. It was definitely an eye-opener. It's intense all the time, the coaches are very straight-forward and they expect a lot from everybody. Just dealing with being at the meetings 15 minutes early, making sure everything is taken care of and dealing with scouts and agents was just something totally new.

As far as the week of practices, there were a lot of guys out there from big schools from all across the country. It could be intimidating at times, but once you realize that it's just football, and it's what I've been doing my whole life, you get over it and just play your game.

I felt like I did well in practice and everything. Once I slowed things down for myself and kind of got over it being a "playing with all of these great players" thing, I felt like I stood out and it felt good.

We met with about 15 different people over the course of the week just going through all of the different challenges we're going to face in the future.

Getting past all of that, giving yourself your own time and focusing on what you can do best was most important. And it showed. I think going into the whole thing, I don't think people expected that much out of myself or anyone from the Mountain West — or UNLV. in particular — and we showed them that we can play with anybody.

I think, being at practice, I made some explosive plays, some big hits, a couple of tackles for losses, good pass coverage with some break-ups. By the time the game came, the rest was easy.

The hardest part was dealing with the intensity and the stress. The game part was enjoyable.

Once it got to the game, I was having fun. I was saying "Hey, this is my first bowl game, I don't know about you guys, but I'm gonna make the most of this." For the amount of plays that I played, I thought I took advantage of my opportunities.

After that came an invite to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. I'll be working out there from Feb. 26 until March 1, both showing off my physical and mental skills, meeting with executives and coaches from around the league. After splitting time as a defensive end and outside linebacker last season, I'm trying to make it in the league as a weak-side linebacker.

Also going are two of my former UNLV teammates — guard Joe Hawley and receiver Ryan Wolfe.

I'm actually feeling relieved.

I look at it as a relief because all it is is another opportunity. I feel like I have a lot of God-given ability, and that by just trusting him and keeping on doing things I've been doing, things will work out.

As far as getting my numbers right, with the speed work and all that the combine has to offer, as well as at our UNLV pro day in March, I have two opportunities to show off my ability.

I'm that much closer to realizing my life-long dream. It's unreal. It's really unreal.

I think the biggest thing is just taking it one day at a time, because this is the biggest job interview of my life. You don't want it to get overwhelming. I'm looking at it more as I'm going to do the best I can, and hopefully someone will see that the ability I possess is good for their team.

It only takes one team to really like you to help yourself out.

I've never asked for any of this. I really didn't. It's just that I asked for a chance. That's all I've wanted — a chance.

Everyone's worried about draft rounds and this and that, and I just want an opportunity to be around a bunch of gifted players.

I'll talk to you all again once I get back from Indy!