Washington State University Athletics

Washington State University has a long history of outstanding offensive linemen: Mel Hein, Turk Edwards, Mike Utley and Dan Lynch. Geoff Reece, who donned a Cougar uniform from 1971-74, stands toe-to-toe with those legendary lineman. Reece, who began his WSU career as a walk-on, ended it as a two-time first-team All-American and one of the best offensive linemen in the program history. The center from Everett, Wash., started as a sophomore in the 1972 opener, helping the team to a 7-3 record, and became a fixture at center for the next three seasons. As a junior he was named to the All-Pacific-8 Conference first team and repeated that selection his senior season. His final season it wasn’t just the conference that took notice, it was the nation. He received first-team All-America honors from Time Magazine and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and he also participated in the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game. A third-round selection by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1975 NFL Draft, Reece spent four seasons in the NFL, two years in Los Angeles, one with Baltimore and one with his hometown Seattle Seahawks.