Nevada football's most important players in 2021: No. 12 Miles Beach

The Nevada football team's potential 2020 season has been pushed back to spring 2021 at the earliest, but we might as well finish the countdown we started earlier this summer. We are counting down the Wolf Pack's 25 most important players, one each as we head toward what is hopefully a season opener. Today's player: No. 12 Miles Beach.

Miles Beach

Position: Offensive tackle

Class: Senior

Height/weight: 6-4/280

Hometown: Los Gatos, Calif.

Career college stats: 34 games (15 starts)

Why he's on the list: Beach came to Nevada as a tight end before switching to the offensive line in the middle of his redshirt freshman season in 2017. He became a rotation player in 2018 before starting all 13 games for the Wolf Pack last season, starting at guard before kicking out to left tackle after a season-ending injury to Jake Nelson in the fifth game of the year. He was one of Nevada's steadiest offensive linemen in 2019, although the Union struggled in the run game while being OK in pass protection. Beach has worked hard to put on weight over the years to fully make the transformation from tight end to tackle, and he's as strong as he's been while at Nevada. Playing the ever-important left tackle position, Beach will be counted on to protect Carson Strong's blindside. Beach suffered a should injury late in fall camp last season and had to play through that much of the year, doing so nobly. He's healthy now. As a three-time academic All-Mountain West honoree, Beach is a quick study and playing for Nevada means a lot to him as he got a tattoo of the Battle Born logo on his right arm. "The reason I got it is Nevada was my only offer," Beach said last year. "I was overlooked by every other school., even my hometown school" Beach's offer came from former Nevada coach Brian Polian, as he is one of just seven fifth-year seniors who came to Nevada under Polian. As a fifth-year senior, Beach is among those who have to be the most eager to play this season, their last year in college. And if Nevada does hit the field, Beach's play will help dictate how much improvement Nevada's suddenly experienced offensive line will have in trying to power an offense loaded with good skill-position players.

Sports columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or follow him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.