Tennessee State football loses All-OVC linebacker to transfer portal

Monroe Beard

Monroe Beard III was a major part of Tennessee State’s third-ranked OVC-Big South defense in 2023.

He will now take his talents elsewhere after entering the transfer portal, according to Zach McKinnell of The Bluebloods.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker was First Team All-OVC-Big South, recording 95 tackles, four tackles for loss, and an interception for Tigers defense that ranked third in the conference in points and yards allowed. Beard, a graduate transfer, previously played at Arkansas-Pine Bluff from 2019-2022, where he recorded 138 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.