95 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Travis Britz

#95 Travis Britz True Senior 6-4 | 293 Harrisonville, Mo. Bio

Position: Defensive Tackle Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship

Travis Wayne Britz (b. Jan. 26, 1994) is a big, physical defensive tackle who is one of K-State's top D-linemen.

Britz has accumulated 23 starts over the past two seasons, has five career blocked kicks to tie the school record — four of them in a single season — and has been voted a player representative for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

He's come a long way since I thought he was likely to redshirt in 2012, when he played very competently at tackle as a true freshman in our championship season.

Last year, Britz started the first 10 games of the year before an injury cut his season short. He finished with 27 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks, earning honorable-mention All-Big 12 accolades.

Britz recorded a sack against UTEP, then tied the school record with his fifth career blocked kick at No. 11 Oklahoma on a late extra point attempt, which gave the Wildcats a one-point victory.

He was playing his best before the injury, tallying a career-best seven tackles at TCU after having three tackles for loss and two sacks against Oklahoma State. He tied his career high with four solo tackles against the Cowboys.

In 2013, Britz earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors from the league's coaches, making 37 tackles from his defensive tackle position, including 6.5 for a loss and three sacks, while also batting away four passes.

His four blocked kicks against UMass, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Texas Tech led the nation. His best was when he tallied a blocked field goal at Oklahoma State, which was returned 65 yards for a touchdown by Kip Daily.

Britz set a career high with five tackles against Baylor, while he had a career-best four solo stops against TCU.

He amassed six solo tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in the 11 games in which he saw action in 2012. He's by far the best returning defensive tackle on the fall roster, based on experience.

Rivals rated Britz the No. 20 overall player in a state that had a bumper crop of talent in his class. He was a 2011 first-team all-state pick by the Missouri Coaches Association and Missouri Sports Writers Association.

A 2011 Kansas City Star All-Metro first-team pick, Britz recorded 70 tackles and seven sacks in 2011, collected 99 tackles and three sacks as a junior, and totaled 214 career tackles in three seasons overall.

Other accolades include his being a two-time All-Missouri River Valley pick, and a MaxPreps second-team All-American and Missouri Class 4 Defensive MVP in 2011.

Here's hoping Britz bounces back from the foot injury and has a great senior season. Word was he could have played in the bowl game and he participated in spring practices (except the spring game), so things look good.