Standing at 6 feet, 240 pounds, Patrick Neal doesn’t exactly look like a Big 12 defensive end.

Guys like Willie Scott — 6 feet, 2 inches, 215 pounds — and Roosevelt Maggitt — 6 feet, 2 inches, 243 pounds — don’t really look the part, either.

The thing is, those are the guys that ISU defensive ends coach Curtis Bray is trying to turn into Big 12 defensive ends, and guys he’s counting on to pressure opposing quarterbacks this fall.

“We can fool ourselves all we want, say we’re going to get four-man pressure a lot,” Bray said. “Our guys are about 245, 250 and the tackles we’re playing are about 325, 320. We’re going to have to keep mixing it up.”

During the first eight practices of the spring season, Bray said he’s working with his group on finding different ways to get to the quarterback.

While ISU coach Paul Rhoads said he wants his defense utilizing more blitzes to create pressure, Bray said there are techniques the defensive ends have been working on to get in the backfield, as well.

“We’ve got to be speed oriented,” Bray said. “The biggest thing, for us, is going to be getting off of the ball.”

Neal is easily the most experienced of this group of ISU defensive ends after spending last season as a starter.

Maggitt played part time and was, as Bray put it, the most productive of the unit last season.

But, Bray said the two of them were only productive for their first 30 plays on the field, something the coach is hoping will be helped by the increased depth at the position.

“That’s why we need four or five guys to play,” Bray said. “That’s what we’re working to. Hopefully we can keep their production up and limit their plays.”

Even though 35 to 40 snaps can wear on smaller defensive linemen, Neal said he thought the conditioning of the group wasn’t the culprit that slowed their productivity on later plays.

Instead, he said the group lost some of its focus as the game wore on.

“That’s a lot of plays to stay mentally into the game,” he said. “Being focused and mentally sharp throughout the game, that’s the thing we can improve on.”

Neal’s the only senior among the five ends listed on the ISU depth chart, but he said despite that experience he still had a lot to learn.

Neal said the unit not only has to improve its pass rush, but improve in stopping the run as well.

All the while going up against 320-pound offensive linemen.

“They’re always going to be bigger than you,” Neal said. “You’ve just got to counter with quickness and good technique.”