Goal No. 2: UNSELFISHNESS. There is no “I” in TEAM.
#2 Colby McCalister
Redshirt Junior | 5-10 | 198 lbs. | Houston, Texas
- Position: Safety
- Previous College: None
- Projection: Second-String (eventually)
- Status: On Scholarship
Colby McCalister (b. March 7, 2004) is an instinctive and experienced defensive back from Clear Brook High School in Houston, Texas, who is majoring in business administration. Entering 2025, he is still recovering from a late-season injury and is unavailable for Farmageddon, but hopefully will be back on the field relatively soon.
McCalister redshirted and did not see playing time during the 2022 Big 12 Championship season.
In 2023, he saw action
in all 13 games during his first season on the field, including starts in the season opener against SEMO and in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State.
McCalister came away with 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble over his 223 defensive snaps and 122 special teams plays, and he carded a season-high six tackles against NC State and had four apiece against Texas Tech and Baylor, the latter game in which he recorded his first career sack and a forced fumble. His pass breakup came against NC State in the bowl game.
Last season, McCalister saw action in every regular season game, including drawing starts against Colorado, Arizona State and Cincinnati. Unfortunately, he sustained a season-ending knee injury in that final home game.
McCalister registered 24 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup on the season over his 299 defensive snaps, including a career-high 51 snaps against Arizona State, and he tied his career high with six tackles against Cincinnati, while he had five against Oklahoma State and four at Tulane.
He returned a blocked punt 1 yard for a touchdown against UT Martin, while he broke up a pass against Arizona, recovered a fumble against Oklahoma State and tied for fourth on the team with three special teams tackles.
McCalister was a three-year starter under head coach John Towels at Clear Brook, where he was regarded as the 87th-best cornerback in the Class of 2022 by ESPN.
A three-time all-district selection who earned 2021 academic all-state honors, he totaled 63 tackles and two interceptions for the Wolverines over his three-year prep career.
McCalister also completed in baseball and at track and field as a prep.
He enters 2025 as the most trusted safety coming off the bench in relief of the starters.
McCalister chose K-State over a scholarship offer from Alabama State, as well as interest from Army (which possibly offered as well) and Colorado.
His primary recruiter was assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Van Malone.
Here’s what head coach Chris Klieman has had to say about this cornerback-turned-safety:
Colby has been a three-year starter. A really physical corner, he knows the game really well and has tremendous speed. We look for him to be a leader already in the secondary, just a really mature kid and excited to have Colby joining us as well.
McCalister’s position coach and defensive coordinator, Joe Klanderman, agreed with that:
You’d love to have nine guys you feel comfortable with. Right now, I’m really pleased with Colby McCalister. He’s a guy who we weren’t sure what to expect in the spring (of 2023) and he’s far exceeded expectations.
