Kansas football top 25 difference-makers: No. 21, DE Isaiah Bean

By Staff     Aug 4, 2017

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Kansas defensive end Isaiah Bean (19) gets airborne as he and safety Greg Allen (22) take out Baylor wide receiver Blake Lynch (2) during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas.

Those among us who have difficulty with the battle of the bulge wonder how wonderful it must be to be ordered to gain weight.

It’s really just two different sides of the same coin. Losing weight requires discipline and so does putting it on. Some bodies aren’t as receptive as others to putting on pounds. Isaiah “String” Bean, sophomore defensive end for Kansas has so many traits that make him ideally suited to rush the quarterback. He has long arms, stands 6-foot-4, is extremely quick and plays with fury. If only he could put on weight at a faster rate.

Bean is listed at 220 pounds and is up “12, 13 pounds,” according to head coach David Beaty. For now, he’s a specialist, a pass rusher on passing downs.

“He’s a special kid, now,” said special teams coach Joe DeForest, who helps coach defensive ends. “He’s got so much speed off the edge. Obviously, he’s not an every down player because he can get swallowed up by big tackles, but his speed off the edge creates issues for offenses. They may even have to use a back to chip him.”

If so, that’s one fewer potential pass-catcher to have to defend. Bean’s an exciting talent whose role will expand as his weight does throughout his career.

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50888Kansas football top 25 difference-makers: No. 21, DE Isaiah Bean