Louisiana WR Jack Bech commits to Vanderbilt

Louisiana's 2021 class is chock full of talented wide receivers and one of the best is now off the board.

Three-star St. Thomas More (La.) wide receiver Jack Bech gave an early commitment to Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Commodores hosted and offered the Lafayette, La., standout in February. Vandy was Bech's lone SEC offer and because of the coronavirus, one of only a handful of campuses that the 2021 prospect has visited in recent months along with LSU, Louisiana-Lafayette and Tulane.

Vanderbilt was active in Louisiana in the 2020 recruiting cycle, signing Rivals250 safety Donovan Kaufman out of New Orleans and added Mandeville three-star wide receiver Will Sheppard close to the Early Signing Period.

Bech's early decision may have been compounded by the NCAA's dead period and the restriction of on-campus visits. Bech had been in active conversations with coaches at LSU, Mississippi State, Virginia and TCU, among others, about junior day trips and camp appearances this summer.

Bech is a top-10 prospect in Louisiana's 2021 class and currently ranks at the No. 63 wide receiver nationally.

"With all of the virus stuff, my family is in. I never get to see my whole family that much in-person, so we've been talking about it (recruiting) a lot. I've been talking with my brother and my parents a lot and I was thinking this is the right decision for me. It's a great mix of both worlds. On the visit, the coaching staff won us over and I loved everything about it."

"We've had a lot of time to think about it and we thought this was right for me and this is where I wanted to be. I feel like Vanderbilt, right now, is the choice for me and I'm confident in my decision. I feel really good about being 100-percent committed to 'Anchor Down.'"

"Everything is really shut down for who knows how long ... all of this recruiting stuff has been put on hold for no one knows how long, so I've been thinking about Vanderbilt and what Nashville has to offer. Knowing what I wanted, it was a good combination."

"Being able to go up there (in February), the coaches have kept it real with me and kept up with me every day probably five to 10 messages a day to check on how I'm doing. I probably talk to Coach (Tony) Ball, the receivers, coach, for 30 or 40 minutes a day. I know (offensive coordinator) Coach (Todd) Fitch from (Louisiana) Tech and I saw the type of offense he's bringing. I know how I fit in it from watching Tech last year and he helped me feel out the role I'd be able to play in the Vanderbilt offense and I'm confident in Coach Fitch."

At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Bech is a physically gifted wide receiver that spends the majority of the time inside in the slot. He's not your typical weapon for that role. He has a big frame and brings a unique touch of physicality to the position.

Bech thrives as a jump-ball receiver. He makes a habit out of attacking the ball at its highest points and has the fantastic body control to bring down difficult catches. It helps that Bech has really reliable hands to help bring in more challenging grabs on a routine basis.

There are no verified testing numbers for Bech and speed was a major question mark heading into the spring and summer. While he does not consistently generate separation, Bech consistently wins 1-on-1 matchups out of the slot and is able to reel in contested balls. He has a phenomenal catch radius as well and is a safety blanket for his quarterbacks.

Bech's highlight tape includes several big plays downfield and he's a dangerous weapon to use in space. While he's a solid route-runner and capable of making defenders miss in the open field, Bech's physicality is very noticeable after the catch; he's a 200-pound running back in those situations. Bech also uses his frame to his advantage to make catches over the middle and in the red zone, where he is an absolute mismatch. He's also a motivated blocker.

Last year, Bech was a key contributor on Louisiana’s Division II state champion St. Thomas More squad with Louisiana Tech signee Caleb Holstein at quarterback. He caught 91 passes for 1,668 yards and 20 touchdowns. Expect Bech’s production to continue with 2022 passer Walker Howard stepping into a starting role.