Kansas State football offensive lineman Cooper Beebe is no ordinary jack-of-all-trades
MANHATTAN — Cooper Beebe may never find a permanent home on Kansas State football's offensive line.
It's not for lack of trying, mind you, and certainly not for a lack of ability. His selection as the 2022 Big 12 offensive lineman of the year, not to mention several All-America honors, speak to that.
In Beebe's case it's quite the opposite. The combination of skill, strength and football smarts that have him rated as one of the nation's premier linemen also have made him too valuable for the Wildcats to leave him at one spot.
"It's really impressive," K-State coach Chris Klieman said after Beebe not only started at his regular left guard position in last Saturday's season opening 45-0 victory over Southeast Missouri State, but also lined up at both right and left tackle. "It just goes to show you somebody that's been in the program that just understands how all five have to work as one, and he listens and pays attention."
Beebe, who has played both guard and tackle positions in his Wildcat career, was asked Tuesday if center was next on his agenda.
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"If they need me to, I would," Beebe said with a smile. "I joke. I said I was trying for the o-line cycle last game.
"But if they needed me to do it, I would. I've got to get right guard in at some point this year, and then who knows. They might (give) me a couple of snaps to complete it all."
Beebe started every game last year at left guard, the most natural position for his 6-foot-4, 335-pound frame likely his future home in the NFL. But as a sophomore in 2021, he was a fixture at left tackle while also earning all-conference honors.
"I think we've had some swing guys, but to do it at the high level," Klieman said of Beebe, who has not surrendered a sack in his last 832 pass blocking plays dating back to the 2020 season. "He could be an all-conference player at many spots on the offensive line, and it's going to allow us to stay fresh with some of the other players.
"You want Coop in the game, and so if there's ways for us to get Hadley (Panzer) and TP (Taylor Poitier) in the game together, then he's got to play tackle. That's something Riles (offensive line coach Conor Riley) is going to continue, to just put different guys out there and make sure that they all mesh well together."
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The Wildcats appeared to have some stability heading into this season when all five linemen announced that they would be back. And that wasn't counting Poitier, who started at right guard before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the 2022 opener.
But then a summer injury sidelined super-senior Christian Duffie, a two-year starter at right tackle, for at least a few early games. Beebe figured he might be on the move again.
"It happens," Beebe said. "Coach (Conor) Riley told me, 'You're going out there to play that (right tackle) position.' I said, 'OK, I'll give it my best shot.'
"We're still just trying to find who the best fits are. And if that means I've got to play tackle, then I will. We're still just trying to figure it out, and I'm a plug and play guy, so coach knows that whatever position I need to play, I will play."
The Wildcats opened the SEMO game with regulars KT Leveston at left tackle, Beebe at left guard, Hayden Gillum at center and Panzer at right guard. Junior Carver Willis, one of a group of talented younger linemen, stepped in for Duffie at right tackle.
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Offensive line searching for right combination
After a sluggish start — the offense scored on its first possession but was shut out the rest of the opening quarter — the Wildcats looked at some other combinations. Panzer moved to left guard and Poitier stepped in on the right side, allowing Beebe to move outside.
"I've been preparing for it all camp because coach Riley talked to me, saying that you need to be prepared just with Duff being out," Beebe said. "So I've been preparing for this."
That still doesn't mean it's an easy transition, both switching sides and going from guard to tackle. Just ask Panzer, who only had to move from one guard to the other.
"For me moving from right to left and seeing Cooper being able to do it, I think that helps me in my confidence level. If he's doing it, then I can do it too," said Panzer, a junior who also practiced at center last year before Poitier got hurt. "So I appreciate that about him."
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
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This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State football lineman Cooper Beebe shows his versatility
