#20 Colby McCalister — Sophomore safety Colby McCalister (20) earned his first career start in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, has shed a zero from his jersey number and enters 2024 firmly entrenched in the safety two-deep. | Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the second day until the 2024 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State safety Colby McCalister.

Goal No. 2: UNSELFISHNESS. There is no “I” in TEAM.

#2 Colby McCalister

Redshirt Sophomore | 5-10 | 200 lbs. | Houston, Texas

Position: Safety
Previous College: None
Projection: Second-String
Status: On Scholarship

Colby McCalister (b. March 7, 2004) is an instinctive young defensive back from Clear Brook High School in Houston, Texas, who is majoring in business administration. He redshirted and did not see playing time during the 2022 Big 12 Championship season.

In 2023, McCalister 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.

He came away with 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, one pass breakup and one forced fumble on the year, 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.

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 2024 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 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.