Biography
2022: Made appearances in three games on the defensive line … Registered one solo tackle against Brown (Nov. 12) … Played in the season opener at Marist (Sept. 17), at Brown (Nov. 12) and against Cornell (Nov. 19).
2021: Saw action in two games on the offensive line and on special teams … Contributed on the scout team … Played at Princeton (Oct. 2), and in the season opener vs. Marist (Sept. 18).
HIGH SCHOOL: A May 2021 graduate of De La Salle High School in New Orleans, La., where he played four years of varsity football for Head Coach Ryan Manale … Two-time Class 3A All-State selection as an offensive guard … Named to the All-South Louisiana First Team as a senior … Two-time All-Metro New Orleans honoree … LHSAA Horizon Sports Award winner as a senior … Named an NFFNetwork Scholar-Athlete … All-Clarion Herald First Team member as a senior … Four-time All-District selection …Four-year team captain … Played both offensive guard and defensive line with the Cavaliers … Led De La Salle to three Class 3A state championship appearances and three Class 3A District 11 titles in four years … Led the Cavs to a 10-1 overall record, 4-0 conference record, a 3A District 11 title and state title game appearance as a senior in 2020 … Led Cavs to an 8-5 overall record, district title, and state title appearance as a junior … Led De La Salle to a 9-4 overall record, 4-1 district record, and playoff appearance as a sophomore … Team finished 11-2 with 5-0 league record, district title and state championship game appearance as a freshman … Rated a three-star recruit by 247sports.com … Ranked the No. 50 recruit in the state of Louisiana … Competed in track and field in throws (shot put) … Four-time National Honor Society member … Two-time Gold Torch Award winner … Two-time Silver Torch honoree … Earned Merit Scholarship … Earned Presidential Scholarship.
PERSONAL: Born John Devord Martin, Jr. on November 28, 2002 in New Orleans, La. … Son of John and Sheila Beard … One of four siblings: Travis Beard, Treyana Beard, and Tracy Beard … Brother Travis Beard played football in 2011 and 2012 … Mother has 11 siblings … Hobbies and interests include video gaming, working at a warehouse for the summer, listening to music, and going out … Role model is his father because he has helped him with everything in life and shaped him into the man he is today … Favorite home-cooked meal: red beans and rice … Favorite musician: Michael Jackson and Future … Not many people know this about him but he is a good beatboxer … Selected Columbia because he loves New York City and he believes the connections he can make with his peers will be beneficial to him later on life … Favorite things about New York City are the campus, food, weather in New York and the opportunity to play football at the highest level … Became interested in Columbia by talking with staff from the other Ivy League schools and he ended up liking Columbia the most … Committed to Columbia on February 2, 2021 … Chose Columbia over offers from Penn, Dartmouth, Brown, Yale, Cornell, Princeton, Alabama, Boston College, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State… Enrolled at Columbia College.
