From the Beaumont Enterprise Online: Lumberton senior linebacker Anthony Beard verbally committed to play football at Southern Methodist University, his high school coach said today. Lumberton coach Alvin Credeur said Beard committed to SMU on Saturday. Because a verbal commitment is a non-binding agreement, Beard can change his until he signs with SMU on National Signing Day. The earliest he can sign with SMU is Feb. 3. Beard joins Central receiver Keenan Holman as the area's only players to commit to SMU, which is currently in first place in Conference USA. "It was when he was a freshman, you could see that he had the instincts to play at the next level," Credeur said. Beard, who is The Enterprise's reigning Super Gold Player of the Year, led Lumberton with 97 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, three sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception this season. Lumberton finished 5-5 overall but 2-5 in district where it missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.