Since coming to Ball State, Justin Beriault has gone from safety to outside linebacker, then back to safety when Brady Hoke replaced Bill Lynch as head coach.
When he takes off his Ball State jersey for the last time Saturday at Central Michigan, he will likely be regarded as one the finest defensive players in Ball State history.
For the fifth-year senior from Indianapolis who majors in criminal justice, the time has gone too quickly, the wins haven't been numerous enough, but the memories are plentiful.
"Number one, I got to play for two great coaches, two guys I respect with all my heart," Beriault said. "I've met lifelong friends. There's five guys that are going to be in my wedding in December.
"I think there were 27 guys that came in (as freshmen in 2000), and there's just 11 of us left. It has been tough, but the camaraderie and everything makes it worth it. If I could do it again and be with the same guys, I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
After starring at safety and receiver for perennial power Warren Central, Beriault joined a Ball State program that went 0-11 in 1999. He redshirted and was moved to outside linebacker by Lynch. Beriault started all 11 games in 2001 and made 117 tackles, including 13 in his debut at Auburn. In 2002 he made 121 stops.
Lynch was fired after the season, but Beriault said the transition to Hoke was a smooth one. Another transition, to strong safety in Hoke's 4-3 defense, went went flawlessly.
His tackle total jumped to 145 last season and stands at 115 heading into Saturday.
"When we first got here ... we knew we were going to make the change moving him back to safety," defensive backs coach Eric Lewis said of Beriault, who has built his 6-3 frame up to 205 pounds. "He's unbelievable athletically, a lot faster than people think. "He's fluid, quick and he's obviously tough from playing linebacker the first two years."
He's also regarded as one of the Mid-American Conference's hardest hitters and in the season opener laid out a Boston College receiver with a clean, jarring smack in the open field.
In addition to graduating from Ball State as one of the school's best players, Beriault will also leave as a proud father and husband. He says his daughter Madison, almost 3 years old, is the greatest thing that ever happened to him.
"That's why I was late, by the way (for the interview), I was watching 'Strawberry Shortcake' with Madison," Beriault joked.
"He jokes that he's more of an adult than me, because he's practically married and has his daughter," Lewis said.
Beriault says thinking of his daughter helps him get through the grueling workouts and games that leave him sore.
"It makes things a lot easier in the summer, when you're running in 90 degrees," Beriault said. "It's easier to give up on yourself than it is for somebody else. What I've accomplished a lot individually is because of her.
"When you were a kid, you wanted your dad to be the greatest. I don't want to let her down. She's not old enough to understand now, but maybe one day when she looks back she can be."
She might well look back on her dad, the NFL player.
According to Beriault and Lewis, about 1 or 2 NFL scouts per week have made their way to Ball State Stadium to watch film. Beriault admits he thinks about playing professionally, but doesn't worry much about it yet.
"I try to stay far away from that," he said. "I got selected as a captain, and that's provided the most pressure, trying not to let the team down."
Lewis, whose father Sherm is an offensive assistant with the Detroit Lions, says there is a lot of interest around the NFL in the BSU safety, and he would be surprised if Beriault isn't drafted.
"I haven't talked to my dad about it, but I know the Lions are aware of him," Lewis said. "I've put a word in. He definitely hasn't hurt himself with his play this year.
"He understands exactly what he has to do to become a good ballplayer."
One of the best in school history.
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