Jalen Geiger receives Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nomination
In the class of 2019, Kentucky signed defensive back Jalen Geiger out of Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley. After a few years as a reserve, Geiger is expected to step into a starting role in 2022. However, the redshirt junior is also making an impact away from the field.
On Thursday, Jalen Geiger was nominated for the 2022 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. Geiger is one of 114 student-athletes from the country to receive the nomination due to exemplary community service along with academic determination and impact both on and off the field.
The defensive back grew up in a military family, and that meant going to a bunch of different schools while growing up. Due to this, Jalen Geiger has developed a passion to help kids who may be young and feel left out. In 2021, he found a mentorship opportunity at Liberty Elementary in Lexington. Geiger visited the school on several occasions, playing with the kids and talking to them about learning and trusting their teachers. He will continue that work in 2022 with plans to talk more to the kids about anti-bullying and being kind to one another.
“Everyone that has met Jalen is so very impressed with everything about him,” Liberty Elementary Child Guidance Specialist Bethany Dewsnap said. “He takes his role as a mentor seriously and encourages our students to be great. He talks to them about the importance of learning and taking advantage of the opportunities they are given, even when they have to work for it. When asked by the principal about working hard for Coach Stoops, he said he works hard because Coach Stoops believes in him and knows what he is capable of accomplishing. He related it back to trusting your teachers and working hard for them because they want you to be your best. Jalen is quiet in nature, but what he says really resonates with my students.”
Heading into year four at Kentucky, Geiger has played in 22 games during his career and earned his first career start last season in a road victory at Vanderbilt. In that SEC contest, the defensive back recorded a pick-six to make it a memorable night in Nashville.
With Yusuf Corker moving to the NFL, the free safety position is open, and Jalen Geiger made a position switch in the spring. The veteran should become a full-time starter this season as the defense rebuilds the secondary. The Wildcats have a defensive player that is doing some very good things both on and off the field.
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