{{Short description|American football player (born 1989)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox NFL biography | image = Jake Bequette University of Arkansas (cropped).jpg | caption = Bequette at the 2011 Arkansas spring football game | number = 92 | position = Defensive end | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1989|02|21}} | birth_place = Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lbs = 265 | high_school = Catholic {{nowrap|(Little Rock)}} | college = Arkansas | draftyear = 2012 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 90 | pastteams = * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2014}}) | highlights = * Super Bowl champion (XLIX) * First-team All-SEC (2011) * Second-team All-SEC (2010) * Freshman All-SEC (2008) | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 8 |pfr=BequJa00 }}
'''George Jules''' "'''Jake'''" '''Bequette III''' (born February 21, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the third round with the 90th overall pick by the Patriots in the 2012 NFL draft. He played high school football at Catholic High in Little Rock, Arkansas, and college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Bequette was rated highly as a defensive end prospect in that year's draft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=68591&draftyear=2012&genpos=DE|title=Jake Bequette - Arkansas, DE : 2012 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-date=May 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517095457/http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=68591&draftyear=2012&genpos=DE|url-status=live}}</ref>
After his football career, Bequette was an United States Army infantry officer who served in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2022 United States Senate election in Arkansas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/12/jake-bequette-senate-arkansas-new-england-patriots|title=Former NFL player Jake Bequette launches bid for Senate seat in Arkansas|website=TheGuardian.com|date=July 12, 2021|access-date=April 19, 2022|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419200926/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/12/jake-bequette-senate-arkansas-new-england-patriots|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Early life and college== Jake Bequette was born George Jules Bequette III in Little Rock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cantoncentennialplaza.com/playerpylons/|title=NFL 100 Player Pylons|publisher=Centennial Plaza|accessdate=May 23, 2022|archive-date=May 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528113809/https://cantoncentennialplaza.com/playerpylons/|url-status=live}} A search of Bequette returns "George J. Bequette III".</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/obituaries/2011/mar/14/george-bequette-sr-herculaneum-ar-2011-03-14/|title=George Jules Bequette Sr.|work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|date=March 14, 2011|accessdate=May 23, 2022|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524031220/https://www.arkansasonline.com/obituaries/2011/mar/14/george-bequette-sr-herculaneum-ar-2011-03-14/|url-status=live}}</ref> Bequette attended Catholic High School in Little Rock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/jul/19/family-lineman/|title=Family lineman|work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|last=Demirel|first=Evin|date=July 19, 2011|accessdate=May 23, 2022|archive-date=May 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523213614/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/jul/19/family-lineman/|url-status=live}}</ref> After high school, Bequette attended the University of Arkansas, where he played college football for the Razorbacks from 2007 to 2011. During his career, he started 42 of 48 games, recording 140 tackles and 23.5 sacks. As a senior, he was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/NEWS/tabid/473/Article/229915/2011-all-sec-football-team-announced.aspx|title=Southeastern Conference|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-date=November 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115190517/http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/NEWS/tabid/473/Article/229915/2011-all-sec-football-team-announced.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
Bequette was named the Defensive MVP of the 2012 Cotton Bowl, helping the 2011 Arkansas Razorbacks football team defeat Kansas State, 29–16, as the Razorbacks finished the 2011 season with a record of 11–2, and a No. 5 final ranking in all polls. Bequette finished the game with five tackles and three quarterback sacks. Bequette is a third-generation Razorback: his grandfather George and father Jay both played for Arkansas, as did his uncle.<ref name="Arkansas football">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104151409/http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=1139004&DB_OEM_ID=6100|archivedate=November 4, 2012|title=Jake Bequette|url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=1139004&DB_OEM_ID=6100|publisher=University of Arkansas|accessdate=May 23, 2022|date=July 20, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Bequette family">{{cite web|url=https://www.fox16.com/sports/razorback-nation/bequette-family-has-long-razorback-history/|title=Bequette family has long Razorback history|publisher=Fox 16 KLRT|date=January 4, 2012|last=Kelly|first=Kevin|accessdate=May 23, 2022|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115063031/https://www.fox16.com/sports/razorback-nation/bequette-family-has-long-razorback-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 4 5/8 | weight = 274 | dash = 4.82 | ten split = 1.71 | twenty split = 2.83 | shuttle = 4.07 | cone drill = 6.90 | vertical = 34.0 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 5 | arm span = 32 | hand span = 9 1/4 | wonderlic = | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jake Bequette Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jake-bequette/32004245-5165-2601-6336-0ece9fa7eab8 |access-date=October 5, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Draft Scout Jake Bequette College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=68591&DraftYear=2012 |access-date=October 5, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref> }}
Bequette was selected in the third round by the New England Patriots in the 2012 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He played in three games in 2012, and five games in 2013. He was released by the Patriots on August 30, 2014, as part of final roster cuts.<ref>{{cite web | title=Report: Pats cut DE Jake Bequette, LB Steve Beauharnais, DT Jerel Worthy | work=weei.com | url=http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2014/08/30/report-pats-cut-de-jake-bequette-lb-steve-beauharnais-dt-jerel-worthy/ | access-date=August 30, 2014 | archive-date=September 3, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903125957/http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2014/08/30/report-pats-cut-de-jake-bequette-lb-steve-beauharnais-dt-jerel-worthy/ | url-status=live }}</ref> He did not see extensive playing time during his time with the Patriots, but re-signed with the team's practice squad shortly after the 2014 cuts. Bequette received a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2014.
Before the 2015 season, the Patriots switched Bequette from defensive end to tight end.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reiss |first=Mike |date=May 29, 2015 |title=New England Patriots DE Jake Bequette adding TE work to his repertoire |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4781839/patriots-de-jake-bequette-adding-te-work-to-his-repertoire |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106143851/http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4781839/patriots-de-jake-bequette-adding-te-work-to-his-repertoire |archive-date=January 6, 2016 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |work=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nfl/story/_/page/reissmailbagweek0616/new-england-patriots-mailbag-back-deflategate-tom-brady-appeal-nfl|title=New England Patriots Mailbag -- Back to Deflategate and Tom Brady's appeal to NFL|work=ESPN.com|date=June 16, 2015|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222153838/http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/page/reissmailbagweek0616/new-england-patriots-mailbag-back-deflategate-tom-brady-appeal-nfl|url-status=live}}</ref> Bequette was waived by the Patriots and subsequently placed on injured reserve after clearing waivers on August 28, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patriots.com/news/2015/08/28/patriots-place-te-jake-bequette-injured-reserve|title=Patriots place TE Jake Bequette on Injured Reserve|work=New England Patriots|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113006/http://www.patriots.com/news/2015/08/28/patriots-place-te-jake-bequette-injured-reserve|url-status=live}}</ref> He was released with an injury settlement on September 4, 2015, and became a free agent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/Article/Patriots-reach-injury-settlement-with-Jake-Bequette-39161086/|title=Patriots reach injury settlement with Jake Bequette|website=New England Patriots|access-date=July 13, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108133535/https://247sports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/Article/Patriots-reach-injury-settlement-with-Jake-Bequette-39161086/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Post-football career== In August 2017, Bequette joined the United States Army. After basic training and Officer Candidate School, he went on to become a Ranger-qualified infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division. Bequette later served a five-month deployment in Iraq in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1358796/2019/11/07/from-patriot-to-patriot-former-defensive-end-jake-bequette-thriving-in-101st-airborne/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210712143733/https://theathletic.com/1358796/2019/11/07/from-patriot-to-patriot-former-defensive-end-jake-bequette-thriving-in-101st-airborne/|archive-date=July 12, 2021|url-status=live|title=From Patriot to patriot: Former defensive end Jake Bequette thriving in 101st Airborne|first=Jeff|last=Howe|website=The Athletic|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
In January 2021, he launched The Arkansas Fund,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hale|first=Tyler|date=February 13, 2021|title=Former Razorback Jake Bequette Launches Relief Fund for Arkansas Businesses|url=https://armoneyandpolitics.com/former-razorback-jake-bequette-launches-relief-fund-for-arkansas-businesses/|access-date=July 14, 2021|website=AMP|language=en-US|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629165143/https://armoneyandpolitics.com/former-razorback-jake-bequette-launches-relief-fund-for-arkansas-businesses/|url-status=live}}</ref> a nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses in Arkansas that have struggled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2021, he announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate against Arkansas Senator John Boozman, challenging Boozman from the right in the Republican primary for the 2022 election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former NFL player, Iraq war veteran Jake Bequette challenges Arkansas Sen. Boozman|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-nfl-player-iraq-war-veteran-bequette-challenges-arkansas-sen-boozman|access-date=July 12, 2021|agency=Fox News|date=July 12, 2021|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421192454/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-nfl-player-iraq-war-veteran-bequette-challenges-arkansas-sen-boozman|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DeMillo |first=Andrew |date=July 12, 2021 |title=Former NFL player announces bid for Senate seat in Arkansas |url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-football-government-and-politics-arkansas-nfl-36e74ea2cbca6f7d1d201123744495a2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714070256/https://apnews.com/article/sports-football-government-and-politics-arkansas-nfl-36e74ea2cbca6f7d1d201123744495a2 |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |access-date=July 14, 2021 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> On May 24, 2022, Boozman ultimately won with 58% of the vote to Bequette's 20%, easily avoiding a runoff.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. John Boozman clinches Republican nomination in Arkansas|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/sen-john-boozman-clinches-republican-nomination-in-arkansas|access-date=May 31, 2022|agency=PBS|date=May 24, 2022|archive-date=May 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531023721/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/sen-john-boozman-clinches-republican-nomination-in-arkansas|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Football stats |nfl=2532791 |espn=14960 |pfr=B/BequJa00}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=1139004|archive-date=June 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612050643/http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=1139004 |title=Arkansas Razorbacks bio}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/profiles/jake-bequette?id=2532791 |url-status=dead |title=NFL draft profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=May 5, 2012 |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502084152/http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/profiles/jake-bequette?id=2532791 }} *{{Cite web|title=Jake Bequette Stats, News and Video - DE|url=https://www.nfl.com/players/jake-bequette/|access-date=July 14, 2021|website=NFL.com|language=en-US}} *{{Cite web|last=Buchmasser|first=Bernd|date=November 11, 2019|title=Former Patriots defender Jake Bequette is finding success and happiness in his new career|url=https://www.patspulpit.com/2019/11/11/20959467/former-new-england-patriots-defender-jake-bequette-new-career-veterans-day|access-date=July 14, 2021|website=Pats Pulpit|language=en}} *{{Cite web|title=The Arkansas Fund {{!}} By Arkansans. For Arkansans.|url=https://www.thearkansasfund.com/|access-date=July 10, 2021|website=The Arkansas Fund|language=en|archive-date=July 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710203657/https://www.thearkansasfund.com/|url-status=dead}}
{{Patriots2012DraftPicks}} {{Super Bowl XLIX}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bequette, Jake}} Category:1989 births Category:American football defensive ends Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football players Category:Arkansas Republicans Category:Living people Category:New England Patriots players Category:Players of American football from Little Rock, Arkansas Category:United States Army officers Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States Senate elections