Former Charlotte 49ers LB Prince Bemah Preparing for NFL Career
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Fly around the field and put running backs, tight ends, and quarterbacks on their butt, that is the quick summarization of Prince Wallace-Bemah’s high school and college career on the gridiron. From Hunter Huss High School (Gastonia, NC) to the Charlotte 49ers, Bemah has been an enforcer on the field. With his NFL Pro Day and then the draft coming up, Bemah is preparing to take his talents to the next level.
A four-year varsity player for Hunter Huss, first as a safety then at linebacker, Bemah has always had a nose for the ball. He ended his senior season with 140 stops.
Bemah got on the field as a true freshman in 2019 executing a 4-2-5 defense.
“I was at the Will linebacker,” Beham stated. “I was playing inside and outside the box depending on the formation. I was guarding tight ends, tight end verticals, guarding running backs out of the backfield, and all the good stuff. I am a run stopper as well.”
Three games into the season, a knee injury was the only thing that could slow down the hard-hitting backer.
“I earned my first start my freshman year,” Beham said. “I played my first game against Gardner-Webb. I started off at second string. I got my first sack against App State and the following week we played UMass – I got Player of the Week.
“The following week, my coaches brought me in for a meeting; told me I was going to start the following week as a freshman against Clemson. They were the No. 1 team in the nation. But due to circumstances, I was injured. I tore my ACL that week before we played Clemson. I was getting my foot in the door, then it was taken from me. It is all in God’s hands.”
The injury is well in the past for Beham.
“I tore my ACL in 2019, I missed that year and the 2020 season,” Beham shared. “I decided not to play to heal up, get my body fully healthy. I played in 2021. In our first game against Duke, I started, I made 10 tackles in that game.”
Over the five seasons with the 49ers, Beham worked under three different coordinators.
“I played through three defensive coordinators,” Beham stated. “My first defensive coordinator, his name is Marcus West (Buffalo Bills). He installed a 4-2-5 defense. Then Greg Brown (USC) came in, he ran the same defense.
“Then in 2023, Ryan Osborn (Oklahoma State) came in showing us different ways of playing defense. He showed us how we can disguise a 4-2-5 into a 5-2 or 4-3, or even three down linemen. The majority of it is the same, it is just different run fits.”
The change under coach Osborn moved Beham to Mike.
“That’s when I switched from Will to middle linebacker,” Beham said. “I was still run stopping, guarding three-strong to the field, taking running backs out of the backfield, and playing in coverage to the strong side of the field.”
Playing inside or outside backer, Beham knows how to get it done on the field.
“My strength is commanding the defense,” Beham shared. “Calling out run or pass plays, stopping the run; I always had a feel for that. I was always strong at that. That is what linebackers are needed for, stopping the run. I’m a good tackler, I can play in open space, and I can make plays in open space.”
Beham on his preparations for Charlotte’s Pro Day.
“I have been training for my Pro Day,” Beham stated. “I’ve been keeping in shape by doing a whole lot of running and a whole lot of lifting. I’m not trying to get too big or lift too much heavy weight but stay explosive.”
The personal message from Beham to NFL scouts:
“You are getting a hard worker. You are getting someone who is dedicated to making sure I do my job right. Someone dedicated to executing his job assignments right. You are getting someone who flies around and gets to the ball.”
Photo credit: RNG/Ryan Wright