Kansas State offensive guard Cooper Beebe is among the best offensive linemen in the country. Beebe is thriving at left guard but also has experience playing both tackle positions. Versatility and outstanding technique are at the forefront of Beebe’s scouting report.
The No. 80 overall player in our latest TDN100 update, Beebe spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his skill set as a blocker, playing multiple positions, his upcoming appearance at the Senior Bowl, and so much more.
JM: From an individual perspective, what would you say is the biggest difference in your game from last season to this year?
Cooper Beebe: I think I’m displaying myself to be an experienced player. You can’t teach experience. Those reps have been so valuable to me. I feel like I’ve seen it all. I see things in different ways from other guys. I think that’s really helped me out this season.
JM: You recently accepted an invitation to play at the Senior Bowl in January. What excited you about that opportunity?
Cooper Beebe: I think it’s a terrific opportunity for me to compete against the best dudes in the nation. I’m the ultimate competitor at the end of the day. I want to show everybody that I can play against any talent in the country, not just the defenders I’m seeing in the Big 12. I can do it against SEC defenders and really anybody they decide to put in front of me. I wanted to compete against the best. I’m going to show the world what I can do at the Senior Bowl.
JM: You have terrific size for the position at approximately 6-foot-4, 335 pounds. How do you utilize size and power to your advantage on a snap-by-snap basis?
Cooper Beebe: Absolutely. I feel like my size allows me to push around dudes. When it comes to the passing game, it’s extremely difficult for defenders to get around my frame. I don’t think people give me enough credit for how well I move at my size. That’s an element of my game that works to my advantage. I move so well for my size. It’s tough to get around me when I’m in pass protection. That’s why I've had success in that area. I also use my power to overpower dudes in the run game.
JM: It’s obvious on tape. You’ve really settled in at left guard this season, but you have previous experience playing both tackle positions, too. Do you see yourself as a guard moving forward?
Cooper Beebe: Yeah, I definitely do. My body and my arm length are tailor-made to play inside at the next level (laughs). I don’t have those long arms teams typically crave at the offensive tackle position. I’ve had a lot of fun playing tackle, and it makes me more versatile, but I definitely see myself playing somewhere inside moving forward.
JM: We really appreciate your willingness to finish on film, especially in the run game. How did you develop that aggressive mentality as a finisher?
Cooper Beebe: It’s a credit to our mindset as an offensive line as a whole. Effort plays and things of that nature, it’s not something you always see from an offensive lineman. It’s something you see at Kansas State, though. That’s something that separates us.
We play through the whistle. Great things happen when you play with terrific effort. It doesn’t have to look perfect all the time. If you’re giving effort, that’s how a six-yard gain turns into an explosive play. It comes with effort. That’s our mentality. We strive for that. I’ve been able to incorporate that into my game.
JM: What do you love about blocking in the run game? Linemen always prefer the run game to pass protection.
Cooper Beebe: There’s no better feeling than knocking around a 300-pound defensive lineman off the ball and putting him on the ground. It’s a mentality thing. If you can run over a dude's throat, there’s no better way to showcase your dominance and aggressive mentality as an offensive lineman. That’s something you should always strive for when playing this position.
I want to run it down your throat. There’s nothing more demoralizing than running the football all over a team. When a defensive linemen can’t stop you, that hurts. I look forward to that every week. That’s why I enjoy playing in the run game.
JM: I love that. From a schematic perspective, how does playing in this offense help prepare you for what comes next?
Cooper Beebe: We do a wide variety of stuff from a schematic perspective. We have all sorts of different schemes. We run gap, zone, man, and so on. We all do all kinds of stuff up front. Introducing me to all of those different schemes means I can execute every single one of them. It’s going to help me at the next level.
