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#60 Will Geary

Redshirt Senior | 6-0 | 298 lbs. | Topeka, Kansas

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

• 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 has started 30 career games.

The first defensive tackle in school history to earn two straight first-team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press, he will continue to solidify the interior of the defensive line while providing leadership for the entire defense.

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.

Geary 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, en route to becoming a first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree.

He 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 Kansas.

In 2015, 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 (eight), tackles for loss (three) and sacks (two). 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 the team’s bowl hopes.

Last season, he started a career-high 13 games, earning his second-straight first-team All-Big 12 honor from the Associated Press in addition to being an honorable mention pick by the league’s coaches and a second-team selection by ESPN.com.

Geary ranked ninth on the team with 45 tackles, was third with seven tackles for loss, and also broke up a pass and recovered a fumble. He ended the regular season on a high note with a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss and season-best seven tackles at TCU.

Geary carded five tackles against Oklahoma and Baylor, the latter featuring a sack. He also was a member of the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy.

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 Class 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, 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 and also won the 2013 National High School Coaches Association heavyweight wrestling crown. The defending Class 6A state powerlifting champion, he also participated in both baseball and track and field.