From all of us here at Bring On The Cats, Happy Independence Day to all of our loyal readers! Try not to blow your fingers off tonight!
#60 Will Geary |
Position: Defensive Tackle Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship |
Will Michael Geary (b. Jan. 12, 1995) is a former walk-on who burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman and started 12 games as a sophomore. He will continue to progress at defensive tackle as he enters his junior season.
Geary redshirted in 2013 even though many thought he could have played significant snaps. He earned the program's Overachiever Award as the top freshman in strength and conditioning.
He played in all 13 games in 2014, with five starts, including in each of the last three games, and came away with 30 tackles, the most among all K-State defensive tackles. He was a first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree.
Geary also logged 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble at West Virginia; tallied a career-best five tackles in a win at No. 11 Oklahoma; and registered sacks in back-to-back games against West Virginia and KU.
Last year, Geary had a breakthrough season, starting all 12 regular-season games en route to first-team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press and honorable mention accolades from the league’s coaches.
He ranked eighth on the team with 45 tackles, while he was fourth in tackles for loss (6.5) and fifth in sacks (3.5).
Geary's tackle total was the most by a K-State interior defensive lineman since 2005. He particularly had a banner day against Oklahoma, with career highs in tackles (8), tackles for loss (3.0) and sacks (2.0).
He also recorded six tackles against UTSA and Louisiana Tech, and he had five against Texas Tech and Iowa State.
Geary had a forced fumble and recovery at Texas Tech, then triggered the turning point of an almost-lost season when he forced an Iowa State fumble in the fourth quarter that led to the game-tying touchdown, saving bowl hopes.
A 2012 All-City League first-team pick at defensive lineman under coach Walt Alexander at Topeka High School, Geary was named to both The Topeka Capital-Journal and VarsityKansas.com 2012 Top 11 teams.
He also was picked as an all-state 6A first-team offensive lineman by the Capital-Journal and VarsityKansas.com, and was named the Kansas Class 6A Defensive Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year in Topeka.
Geary, who was selected to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl, was the back-to-back Class 6A state wrestling champion in the 285-pound class. He also won a national heavyweight wrestling crown.
The defending Class 6A state powerlifting champion, Geary also participated in baseball, as well as track and field.
One GoPowercat.com poster said Geary led the defensive line in 40 time and squatted 660 pounds, also tops for the defensive line. I love Geary's makeup and it seems like wrestlers make really good football players for us.
Oh, and now for the icing on the cake: Geary hails from a Jayhawk family and his late grandfather was a legendary poster on the KUSports.com message board. He was a huge KU fan until Geary picked us, but wore purple for him.