KFBCA Top 11: Grady Seyfert

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams on December 4th and 5th, including the All-Class Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Beloit offensive and defensive lineman Grady Seyfert's capsule below, the fifth of the KFBCA Top 11 capsules for 2022.

Grady Seyfert, OL/DL, 6-2, 275, Beloit

Beloit senior Grady Seyfert was a force over his four seasons at Beloit, starting each one of them on the offensive and defensive lines. Over that time he helped lead Beloit to a state runner-up finish as a junior, a top four finish as a sophomore, the top eight during his freshman season – the Trojan’s last in 3A – and the top eight again this season as a senior.

During his junior year he recorded 71 tackles and 25 tackles-for-loss as the Trojans made their way to the state championship game where an injury riddled Beloit squad fought valiantly against a historically good Rossville team to finish 9-4.

The Trojans overall record during his senior campaign was 8-3, with their playoff loss coming against eventual state runner-up Kingman. The combined win-loss record of the three teams they lost to was 31-4.

Offensively this fall, Seyfert led a line that cleared the way for a potent running attack that gained 2,891 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns on 6.4 yards-per-carry.

On the defensive line Seyfert was again an earthmover tallying 54 total tackles, 38 solos, 25 tackles-for-loss, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a sack. What didn’t show up on paper were his abilities to affect the game before it even started.

“Grady is an outstanding offensive and defensive lineman for a variety of reasons,” Beloit head coach Grad Boger said. “He has a tremendous work ethic that has allowed himself to improve each and every year. He is a strong athlete who is explosive off the ball. He plays with a high motor and he plays with great leverage.”

Seyfert’s efforts led him to earning his second straight Sports in Kansas 2A Defensive Player of the Year award and his third straight All-State nod.

“We got to see him for four years,” Concordia head coach Jordan Echer said. “He was a guy we had to gameplan for, and know where he was lined up at all times. They did a great job moving him around to take advantage of his strengths against others’ weaknesses. He’s a smart and extremely physical football player. His combination of athleticism and strength is what makes him so difficult to block.”

The 6-2, 275 pound lineman isn’t just a force on the football field either. During the spring he’s an elite thrower, with a personal best of 56 feet, one inch in the shot put and 172 feet, five inches in the discus. He took second at the 2022 Kansas State Track & Field Championships in both events.

“Grady is a great leader in our school and truly loves this community,” Gober said. “He is our STUCO President and also was the lead in our school play the last two years. He is fully involved in our positive school culture. He was a two-year team captain for us this last fall and is one of the best throwers in the state in track.”

The physically imposing Seyfert is fittingly leaving a big legacy in the halls and on the gridiron at BHS.

At this time Seyfert is undecided on where he will take his skills and abilities, but has several DII and JUCO offers and a PWO from KU. Seyfert says he is in the process of “talking to a few schools and trying to find a great academic and athletic fit.”

“We are going to miss everything about Grady next fall,” Gober said. “From his dominance, his leadership, and his love for his teammates, he is going to be extremely tough for us to replace. We are looking forward to him playing football on Saturdays in the coming years.”