January 8, 2013

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo football team has signed Junior College transfer Blake Bean to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Jeff Quinn announced on Tuesday. The 6-1, 232 lb. linebacker from Butler Community College in Kansas will enter UB with two years of eligibility beginning in 2013.

Bean played two seasons for the Butler Grizzlies – a perennial power in the Junior College ranks. In Bean's two seasons with Butler, the Grizzlies went 22-2 and lost in the national championship game in 2012.

Bean is coming off a standout season. The Wichita, KS native led the Grizzlies with 113 tackles. He also had 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Bean was named to the 2012 KJCCC All-Conference Second Team. In addition, Bean had a 4.0 grade point average while at Butler.

"Blake is a great fit for our program because he is an outstanding student and a tremendous football player," Quinn said. "He went the Junior College route because he wanted the best opportunity to play collegiate football at the highest level. We have definitely benefitted from that decision and I can't wait to see him in a UB uniform."

Bean originally committed to University of South Florida before a coaching change caused him to look elsewhere. His father, Mike, played defensive end at Ohio State during the years UB defensive coordinator Lou Tepper was the head coach at Illinois and Quinn claimed that played a part in him signing at UB.

Bean was an outstanding high school wrestler as well. He won a state championship as a junior in Oklahoma, before moving to Kansas for his senior year and winning the state championship there as well.