Auburn all-time leading receiver Terry Beasley dies at 73

AUBURN, Ala. (WHNT) — The year was 1969. A light-haired kid from Montogmery named Terry Beasley lettered for the Auburn Tigers for the first time and at the time he probably didn’t know it but he would go on to become the Tigers’ best receiver in program history.

Back in those days the stadium was still named Clifford Hare, the Jordan wouldn’t be added until 1973, freshmen weren’t allowed to play varsity college football and his position was still widely known as a split end but Terry Beasley was ‘ahead of his time’

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Beasley, a College Football Hall of Famer, died Wednesday. Auburn Athletics confirmed Beasly’s death on social media. He was 73.

Famously called “a boy wonder” by legendary Georiga Coach Vince Dooley after lighting up Bulldogs secondary for 130 yards and two touchdowns in 1971, Beasley was ahead of his time by being one of the most talented recievers of his era.

Beasley stepped foot on the Plains alongside of future Heisman Trophy winner, Pat Sullivan —And the two were quite the pair. In 1970, Beasley led the SEC in receptions, receiving yards and scoring. He would be named an All-American.

The following season, Beasley was Sullivan’s go-to guy during his Heisman Trophy campaign and once again earned All-American honors. Beasley didn’t have a long pro career, mainly riddled with injuries, but he was the first receiver drafted in the 1972 NFL Draft by the San Fransico 49ers.

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Despite the modernization of football, Beasley still holds the Auburn record for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

“He was way ahead of his time,” Sullivan once said. “He was as fast as anyone playing the game. But the thing that really set him apart was that he was awfully, awfully, strong.”

Beasley is just one of three Tigers all-time to have their number retired. Auburn retired his number 88.

For Auburn fans, the light-haired kid from Montogmery will forever be remembered for his toughness and being one of the program’s all-time greats.

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