Oklahoma State University Athletics
How I Got Here: Jimmy Bean
February 18, 2014 | Cowboy Football
Feb. 18, 2014
STILLWATER - Okstate.com's "How I Got Here" is a series that asks Oklahoma State football players to detail their football background and careers and how they got to where they are now. The first interview features defensive end Jimmy Bean from Denton, Texas.
On how he started playing football
"It started when I first moved to Texas [in eighth grade]. My brother was in track and my mom wanted everybody who was in school to be in a sport. I chose football and then I ran track. It was just something I've always been interested in."
On people who were influential in his life growing up playing football
"In high school the two people that were the most influential to me were my head coach, John Walsh, and defensive coach, Brian Valenzuela. My older brother was a big influence because he was always a track star, going to regionals and always getting first place. It made me see that I had to compete and do something good like him."
On his high school football career and how he got into his position
"I got into my position because I played receiver my freshman year and on defense I didn't really know what I wanted to play. The coaches looked at me just by my body type and they thought it was the best fit for me at that position. I started out and really started to like it, that's when Coach Val really started to come along and took me under his wing. He talked to me and really coached me up, not only on the football field but in the classroom and off the field too."
On what he likes the most about playing defensive end
"I like how competitive you have to be going down in the trenches against the big offensive line. I like being able to rush the quarterback."
On what brought him to OSU
"How open everybody was and how accepting they were of me. They really opened their arms toward me when they didn't even know me that well. I've really been able to create friendships with a lot of these players and they are people that I really started to grow up with."
On his relationship with his brother
"My younger brother is trying to follow in my footsteps. He's playing in the same position as me and he's only a freshman in high school. I really use that as my motivation to be a good role model because he comes to all the home games and he's always my number one supporter. He always texts me before the games and tells me how many tackles he wants me to get. It just means a lot to go out there and play and know that I have him looking up to me like that."
