CALGARY – Nate Beauchemin lives his life by a simple message: always try to be the best you can at whatever you're doing.

That is something that has proven to work out quite well for the former University of Calgary Dinos football player. 

Last year, the 6-foot-2 defensive back was named not only a First Team All-Canadian, but also the recipient of the U SPORTS Presidents' Trophy – given annually to the nation's defensive player of the year. He went on to be drafted 14th overall in the Canadian Football League Draft by the Montreal Alouettes.

Earlier this week, Beauchemin once again proved to be the best at what was in front of him as he was named this year's Dinos Top Male Academic All-Canadian at the annual Academic All-Canadian breakfast.

But his story is not one without adversity. A highly recruited football player from Kelowna, B.C., he didn't see the field much in his first year in the Scarlet & Gold.

"I remember my first year was really tough," Beauchemin recalled. "Coming in, you were the guy in high school and you're expecting to provide for your team and that just wasn't happening for me at the university level to start. 

"I just remember thinking, 'This sucks, football isn't fun anymore, blah, blah, blah.' And then I had a chat with a close family friend/mentor about where I was. We talked for hours. I knew this before, but from that point on I really just told myself that I want to be the best that I can – in football, in school, and whatever that may be in my life. Throughout my time there, I just kept reminding myself of that."

That mindset paid immediate dividends for Beauchemin.

In the 2022-23 school year, he earned his first of three consecutive Academic All-Canadian honours for his work in the classroom.

That was also the year things started to progress on the field for the defensive standout, making his first start and seeing the field for all eight games.

But it took until early in his third season as a Dino for things to really click for the now CFL player.

"In my third year, I got moved back to free safety and it just felt like that's where I belonged. Having played quarterback (in high school), it's the same but opposite. I just felt at home. My first game at free safety, I made some big hits and the reads just came much quicker. 

"It wasn't until (the Week 4 game against Saskatchewan) at home where I had three interceptions where I kind of realized I might be able to play at the next level. That was the biggest turning point for me. I'm a guy based off proof or evidence, and that game was proof that we can do this at a very high level."

Beauchemin quickly earned his way onto CFL Draft projection boards before grabbing national headlines early in his fourth year when he broke the Dinos' program record for interception return yards in a single season…all in the first half of a win over provincial rival Alberta. 

Despite growing up in a CFL household – his grandfather, Bill Britton, played for seven seasons between the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders – once again, Beauchemin wanted the evidence that he could do this before thinking about the next level.

"I didn't grow up dreaming of being a pro athlete. That might be my own mental downfall – I'm not negative but I'm very realistic and it's a very difficult level to reach.

"My dad preached at a very young age that football doesn't last forever, and to take our studies seriously. We really are just playing a game that kids play. Academically, it was just about setting myself up for the future and understanding that this blessing that I have to play this sport doesn't last forever, so I better be ready when that time comes."

Beauchemin finished his time in the classroom at UCalgary and has the 90 required credits to apply to chiropractic school whenever his time on the football field ends.

But he's in no rush to get back to the classroom just yet, having just wrapped up a successful first season with the Alouettes where he returned to the field late in the season after suffering an injury that kept him out eight games and helped his team to finish as Grey Cup runners-up in his first season in the CFL.

Looking back, Beauchemin said he will always have fond memories of his time with the Dinos and already has plans to return to his second home now that the CFL season is wrapped up.

"The support system at U of C was unbelievable. All of my coaches brought new styles and new ways to look at the game. My ability now is just a blending of all the coaches I've ever had. Even the equipment staff and the training staff – the relationships that I made with them I'll keep forever. It makes it all that much easier when you know you have the support of the world behind you."
 
-UC-