Dee Beckwith is Latest Kentucky Wildcat to join WWE NIL Program

The Kentucky football program is producing pros, and not just in the NFL. Lexington has become a recruiting hot spot for the WWE and Dee Beckwith is the latest to join their ‘Next In Line’ program.

The WWE NIL program gives athletes access to their state of the art training center in Orlando. They also provide guidance in brand building, media training, communications, live event promotion, creative writing and community relations. The program puts them on a fast track to potentially sign with the WWE upon completion of the program.

Dee Beckwith has only been on Kentucky’s campus for one season. The former Tennessee Volunteer from Florence, Al. played special teams and running back for the Cats, totaling five carries for 22 yards in three games last fall. The dude is certainly built like a wrestler.

There’s one other Kentuckian in the third 15-person WWE NIL class. Cameron Jones has an interesting path to the WWE. Originally from Hindman, Ky., he moved to Lexington and was Frederick Douglass’ first starting quarterback. The 6-foot-8 athlete signed with Cincinnati, then switched positions to tight end. When he continued bulking up, gaining more than 70 pounds during his collegiate career, they moved him deeper into the trenches to offensive tackle where he appeared in almost every game in a reserve role. Now the former gunslinger is getting a chance to throw people around in a wrestling ring.

Other Kentucky Wildcats in the WWE NIL Program

He’s not the first Wildcat to join the program. UK women’s track and field hurdler Masai Russell was a part of the WWE’s first NIL class. She is still sprinting her way into the record book for the Wildcats. Last week she broke the collegiate record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.75 seconds, earning SEC Track and Field Runner of the Week Honors.

Former Kentucky defensive lineman Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald signed with NXT after a couple of tryouts with the WWE. The Nigerian-born athlete was recruited by the organization and could not believe he was considered for the program that eventually paved the way for him to sign a contract last summer.

“A lot of people won’t understand this, but Triple H, John Cena, The Rock, Bautista, Kane, Booker T, Rey Mysterio — all of those guys in Nigeria were superstars in our world, role model. I never knew, I — a Nigerian kid — would come to America, play basketball, meet some NBA players, get to see Kevin Hart, play college football, tryout for the WWE and end up seeing the guy I used to watch flip dudes and wrestle,” he told KSR.

“When I was a kid in Nigeria I never thought in my life I would come to America, then here I am. The whole thing is crazy. It’s insane.”