Cooper Beebe Has Great Answer On if He Considered Skipping Bowl Game
Kansas State OL Cooper Beebe announced that he would be playing in the Wildcats’ upcoming Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State despite being regarded as one of the nation’s top linemen, and a top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Beebe earned consensus All-American honors in 2023 becoming the 12th player in Kansas State history, and the first offensive lineman to accomplish the feat, and continued K-State’s stretch of three straight years with a consensus All-American (Deuce Vaughn 2021-2022).
Beebe will likely hear his name called in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but when asked if he had any thoughts of joining other top prospects around the country in sitting out of the bowl game, Beebe replied, “Absolutely not.”
He then continued by mentioning the culture at Kansas State and his role in finishing the mission off right saying, “If I’m going to start something I’m going to finish it. As a leader, I’m going to send this team off right and I’m going to play in the bowl game.”
Beebe also accomplished another major honor with the announcement as the Kansas native became the first Wildcat to earn unanimous Consensus All-America honors since cornerback Terence Newman in 2002, according to the official release. Beebe was honored by all five organizations that vote on the All-American team including the Associated Press, AFCA, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Foundation.
While Beebe earned his praise in his final season with the Wildcats blocking for former K-State signal-caller Will Howard, Beebe and the rest of the Wildcats’ offensive line will go to work blocking for a new face under center in rising freshman, Avery Johnson.
No. 25 Kansas State will face No. 18 NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday, December 28, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The game kicks off at 4:45 p.m. CT with coverage on ESPN and ESPN+.
