The 'Beef' Returns with a Mindset of Getting Better
Mar 09, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
It started with a dinner and discussion less than 48 hours after Kansas State defeated No. 3 TCU, 31-28, in overtime to capture the Big 12 Conference Championship on December 3. Offensive linemen Cooper Beebe, Christian Duffie, Hayden Gillum and KT Leveston occupied a high-top table at So Long Saloon in the Aggieville business and entertainment district close to the Kansas State campus, their combined weight of 1,267 pounds testing the limits of the hardwood floor in one of the Little Apple's most popular establishments.
Gillum on a group chat called the meeting — "Hey, let's get together and see where everyone is at," he wrote — to bring together the veteran beef in the trenches. While right guard Hadley Panzer would be a junior in 2023, the other four offensive linemen had a decision to make: Would they return for another season?
It would mean Gillum, the center, Leveston, the left tackle, and Duffie, the right tackle, would return for a sixth season. It would mean Beebe, the left guard and nation's highest-rated returning interior offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus, would bypass the 2023 NFL Draft and return for his senior season.
"Although everyone has his own journey, choices and decisions, it was important that we wanted to come back together and do this together," Gillum says. "We had a great run in 2022, but I knew I didn't want to come back alone if I didn't have those guys with me.
"We needed to do it together."
The K-State offensive line achieved rock-star status among fans during a year in which the Wildcats enjoyed one of their best offensive seasons in school history. Heck, they even had their own trucker hats made — "Kansas State BEEF Offensive Line" — and they blew up on social media by posing shirtless together on the football field after each road win during a 10-4 season that ended with an appearance in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
"We have great camaraderie," K-State head coach Chris Klieman says, "and if there's a spot you want to have it, it's on the offensive line."
But, alas, it was decision time. By the time the four eldest offensive linemen finished their meals (Gillum had the buffalo chicken wrap), they were in virtual in lock step — "Well, if you return, I'll return" — and after subsequent soul searching, one by one, the offensive linemen revealed their intentions.
"I still have goals to complete and more to accomplish with this team. I love this program and I will be returning for my final season as a Wildcat. #BringBackTheBeef," Gillum tweeted on January 6.
Hours later, Leveston tweeted, "I have unfinished business. I am proud to announce that I will be using my 6th and final year of eligibility to return to K-State for the 2023 season & continue my education. I'm excited to continue this journey with my FAMILY."
One day later, Duffie tweeted, "Run it back. #BringBackTheBeef."
That same day, Beebe tweeted a Terminator meme that in big white block letters read, "I'LL BE BACK."
The offensive line brings back 116 combined career starts in 2023. It's a blessing for K-State and offensive line coach Conor Riley.
"We love Coach Riley," Leveston says. "He's taught me so much in my time here with him. I'm pretty sure everybody can say the same. He's just a natural leader. He has his moments, obviously, if you're not doing something right, but he also has his moments where you're having the best time of your life."
The K-State offense experienced many good times last fall, finishing in the top 10 in school history in 14 game or season categories, including the school record for lowest interception percentage (1.54%), while it ranked second in total plays (958) and total yards (5,863).
K-State ranked 23rd nationally in averaging 5.12 yards per rushing attempt, its third-best effort in school history, and it ranked fourth in the Big 12 in allowing just 1.50 sacks per game, its second-best effort in the last decade.
"Being the best offensive line is a statement that we're wanting to make," Gillum says. "We know we can be the best (in the Big 12) and we can be one of the best offensive lines in the country, but with that comes work. We know the goals we have as a unit, and we know it's going to take a lot of hard work to get there. It's not going to happen overnight.
"We left a lot out there (in 2022). When it comes down to it, whether it's a play or a game, you clean out those few plays here and there, and you have a two-game difference on the season (won-loss record). We didn't finish how we wanted to. We feel like we left a ton out there in (the Sugar Bowl). We know there's more and that's what's exciting."
Gillum paused.
"We just got started last year."
The process began almost immediately after the buzz dissipated from bowl season. That's when the offensive linemen performed an honest assessment of their play upon watching and rewatching video tape of their performance. They examined their collective and individual movement. They examined their explosiveness, physicality and technique. There were so many victories by the offensive line in 2022, but dissecting each error allowed the unit to become 1% better with each passing day.
That mantra to become 1% better each day carries into the newly-constructed Shamrock Practice Facility each day during spring practice. The Wildcats officially opened spring practice Tuesday at 8:10 a.m. and practice will continue through March and April, culminating in a final spring session on April 15.
"Conor Riley, they love him, and he's going to get after them," Klieman says. "He got after Gilly today, and Gilly smiled and laughed, 'This is why I came back,' because he would've missed it. Those guys are so close and they hold each other accountable. What would be fun would be to get those guys up here and roast them because they're going to tell you stories upon stories.
"They bring levity to every practice and every meeting and those guys love playing the game."
They love playing for each other as well.
"It's special how close our group is," Gillum says. "Coach Riley has made it that way. The room is the healthiest it's ever been. Coach Riley knows what he wants in a player, and he's created that closeness. It makes it special on Saturday when you're playing for the guy next to you and you know you have that trust and that bond."
That's why the dinner meeting back in December was so important in getting the wheels turning on what could be an even better season for an already-dominant offensive line.
"We are already a pretty dominant offensive line, but once we fix a couple of areas here and there," Leveston says, "it's going to elevate our game to an elite level."
Exactly how good could the offensive line be in 2023?
"The sky's the limit," Leveston says. "We just have to fine-tune a lot of stuff. Once we get all those little things corrected, we're going to be amazing."
It started with a dinner and discussion less than 48 hours after Kansas State defeated No. 3 TCU, 31-28, in overtime to capture the Big 12 Conference Championship on December 3. Offensive linemen Cooper Beebe, Christian Duffie, Hayden Gillum and KT Leveston occupied a high-top table at So Long Saloon in the Aggieville business and entertainment district close to the Kansas State campus, their combined weight of 1,267 pounds testing the limits of the hardwood floor in one of the Little Apple's most popular establishments.
Gillum on a group chat called the meeting — "Hey, let's get together and see where everyone is at," he wrote — to bring together the veteran beef in the trenches. While right guard Hadley Panzer would be a junior in 2023, the other four offensive linemen had a decision to make: Would they return for another season?
It would mean Gillum, the center, Leveston, the left tackle, and Duffie, the right tackle, would return for a sixth season. It would mean Beebe, the left guard and nation's highest-rated returning interior offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus, would bypass the 2023 NFL Draft and return for his senior season.
"Although everyone has his own journey, choices and decisions, it was important that we wanted to come back together and do this together," Gillum says. "We had a great run in 2022, but I knew I didn't want to come back alone if I didn't have those guys with me.
"We needed to do it together."
The K-State offensive line achieved rock-star status among fans during a year in which the Wildcats enjoyed one of their best offensive seasons in school history. Heck, they even had their own trucker hats made — "Kansas State BEEF Offensive Line" — and they blew up on social media by posing shirtless together on the football field after each road win during a 10-4 season that ended with an appearance in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
"We have great camaraderie," K-State head coach Chris Klieman says, "and if there's a spot you want to have it, it's on the offensive line."
But, alas, it was decision time. By the time the four eldest offensive linemen finished their meals (Gillum had the buffalo chicken wrap), they were in virtual in lock step — "Well, if you return, I'll return" — and after subsequent soul searching, one by one, the offensive linemen revealed their intentions.
"I still have goals to complete and more to accomplish with this team. I love this program and I will be returning for my final season as a Wildcat. #BringBackTheBeef," Gillum tweeted on January 6.
Hours later, Leveston tweeted, "I have unfinished business. I am proud to announce that I will be using my 6th and final year of eligibility to return to K-State for the 2023 season & continue my education. I'm excited to continue this journey with my FAMILY."
One day later, Duffie tweeted, "Run it back. #BringBackTheBeef."
That same day, Beebe tweeted a Terminator meme that in big white block letters read, "I'LL BE BACK."
The offensive line brings back 116 combined career starts in 2023. It's a blessing for K-State and offensive line coach Conor Riley.
"We love Coach Riley," Leveston says. "He's taught me so much in my time here with him. I'm pretty sure everybody can say the same. He's just a natural leader. He has his moments, obviously, if you're not doing something right, but he also has his moments where you're having the best time of your life."
The K-State offense experienced many good times last fall, finishing in the top 10 in school history in 14 game or season categories, including the school record for lowest interception percentage (1.54%), while it ranked second in total plays (958) and total yards (5,863).
K-State ranked 23rd nationally in averaging 5.12 yards per rushing attempt, its third-best effort in school history, and it ranked fourth in the Big 12 in allowing just 1.50 sacks per game, its second-best effort in the last decade.
"Being the best offensive line is a statement that we're wanting to make," Gillum says. "We know we can be the best (in the Big 12) and we can be one of the best offensive lines in the country, but with that comes work. We know the goals we have as a unit, and we know it's going to take a lot of hard work to get there. It's not going to happen overnight.
"We left a lot out there (in 2022). When it comes down to it, whether it's a play or a game, you clean out those few plays here and there, and you have a two-game difference on the season (won-loss record). We didn't finish how we wanted to. We feel like we left a ton out there in (the Sugar Bowl). We know there's more and that's what's exciting."
Gillum paused.
"We just got started last year."
The process began almost immediately after the buzz dissipated from bowl season. That's when the offensive linemen performed an honest assessment of their play upon watching and rewatching video tape of their performance. They examined their collective and individual movement. They examined their explosiveness, physicality and technique. There were so many victories by the offensive line in 2022, but dissecting each error allowed the unit to become 1% better with each passing day.
That mantra to become 1% better each day carries into the newly-constructed Shamrock Practice Facility each day during spring practice. The Wildcats officially opened spring practice Tuesday at 8:10 a.m. and practice will continue through March and April, culminating in a final spring session on April 15.
"Conor Riley, they love him, and he's going to get after them," Klieman says. "He got after Gilly today, and Gilly smiled and laughed, 'This is why I came back,' because he would've missed it. Those guys are so close and they hold each other accountable. What would be fun would be to get those guys up here and roast them because they're going to tell you stories upon stories.
"They bring levity to every practice and every meeting and those guys love playing the game."
They love playing for each other as well.
"It's special how close our group is," Gillum says. "Coach Riley has made it that way. The room is the healthiest it's ever been. Coach Riley knows what he wants in a player, and he's created that closeness. It makes it special on Saturday when you're playing for the guy next to you and you know you have that trust and that bond."
That's why the dinner meeting back in December was so important in getting the wheels turning on what could be an even better season for an already-dominant offensive line.
"We are already a pretty dominant offensive line, but once we fix a couple of areas here and there," Leveston says, "it's going to elevate our game to an elite level."
Exactly how good could the offensive line be in 2023?
"The sky's the limit," Leveston says. "We just have to fine-tune a lot of stuff. Once we get all those little things corrected, we're going to be amazing."
Players Mentioned
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