Texas Christian University wide receiver Jack Bech has rapidly improved his NFL draft stock just over one month after the tragic passing of his brother in the attack on New Orleans.
Martin “Tiger” Bech, the late brother of the TCU wide receiver, was among those killed in the New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street that left 14 people dead and over 30 people injured.
Tiger was a former All-Ivy League kick returner and wide receiver at Princeton University.
Tiger has inspired Jack throughout this draft process and helped him win the MVP award at the Senior Bowl last week in Mobile, Alabama.
Bech caught the eye of many NFL scouts during individual drills throughout the Senior Bowl practices, but his most impressive performance came when the American Team defeated the National Team 22-19.
Before the matchup, Bech chose to honor his brother by wearing No. 7, the same number that Tiger wore during his three-year career at Princeton.
Bech finished the Senior Bowl game with six catches for 68 receiving yards and caught a game-winning touchdown as time expired to give the American Team the victory, per Sporting News.
Shortly after the game, Bech dedicated his performance to his late brother and said he would not have been able to accomplish his goals without the help of his family and God.
“Man, it’s simple: My brother has some wings on me,” he said, as reported by ESPN.
“He gave them to me, and he let that all take place. My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Tiger. Nothing else but them. They’re the reason I did what I did today. I attribute it all to them.”
TCU football fans are not surprised by Bech’s meteoric rise throughout the opening portions of the NFL draft process. He helped guide the Horned Frogs to a 9-4 record and sixth place in the Big 12 standings.
Bech led the Horned Frogs in nearly every receiving statistical category during the 2024 season, finishing the year with 62 receptions for 1,034 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns.
Although Bech is not expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, there is optimism that his stock will continue to rise during the NFL Draft Combine that begins at the end of the month.
Despite the potential to be a high draft selection, Beck said he would give it all up to see his brother one more time.
“It’s a goal that you set for yourself. But if I had the option that if I came here, had the worst week ever, ruined my draft stock and that means I could give my brother a hug right now, you know I would take that,” he explained, according to ESPN.
“On the flip side, I don’t think I could have had the week I had if all that didn’t happen.”