Beverly was born and grew up in Long Beach, California and attended Locke High School in South Los Angeles.
[1] Beverly began his collegiate career at Long Beach City College before transferring to Illinois after his sophomore year.
[3] As a senior he was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference after rushing for 685 yards and nine touchdowns with nine receptions for 77 yards and another touchdown as Illinois won the Big Ten Conference title.
[4] Beverly was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 1984 NFL draft but was cut during training camp.
He rushed 62 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns and started three games and was released when the strike ended.