North Putnam’s Braeger ready for senior campaign

At 6-foot-2-inches and 240 pounds, Beckett Braeger has the look of an athlete.

The North Putnam lineman is a standout up front, swimmer and thrower, but it is on the action on the gridiron that he is most excited.

It’s been that way since he cut his teeth on football in kindergarten after his father signed him up for flag football.

“I started playing tackle football in the second grade. I had to play with third graders because that’s when our football program started tackle football. I played a grade above me, and my dad coached me and my older brother for many years,” Braeger told The Putnam County Post. 

Over the years, Braeger has had countless memories on the football field for the Cougars, but last season’s 7-3 campaign may be among the best. The Cougars opened the season 5-0 and picked up the Putnam County title, as well the WIC title.

“We have some of the top players in the state, had a solid football team that worked hard together and played hard together,” Braeger said reflecting on last year.

This season, North Putnam returns quarterback Christian Kramer, who was among the state’s top quarterbacks last year. For that reason, along with moving to the new Monon Athletic Conference, the excitement is high for the Cougars. As a result, Braeger has been hard at work this offseason.

“My offseason has been very good. I have been eating healthy, working on my speed and being in the weightroom. My focus has been getting stronger and gaining muscle. My numbers show that I have been getting stronger. My bench went up 30 pounds and my power clean went up 35 pounds since the winter. I have gained 15 pounds this offseason by eating healthy and working out,” Braeger admitted.

With the season approaching, Braeger acknowledged he has several goals.

“My goals for the upcoming season are to become all county and all conference and stay healthy. For my team, it is to continue to play until November. We have a lot of players that have experience. We are joining a new conference with very good competition,” Braeger said of the MAC, which features Greencastle, Crawfordsville, Western Boone, Cascade, Southmont, Frankfort and North Montgomery.

Braeger currently holds offers from Defiance and Anderson.

“It feels great, but I am still working hard to improve. I am looking forward to getting more this season,” Braeger said.