FB - Gary Chandler HOF

Gary Chandler

Defensive Back (2005-2006)

 

Gary Chandler rushed for 1,600 yards as a junior in high school for Wichita East.  As a senior, he rushed for 1900 yards and 28 touchdowns for Wichita Heights High School.  Chandler led the team to a 10-1 record, the best in school history.  Chandler was named All-State Top 11 by the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital-Journal as a defensive back.  Chandler participated in the 2005 East-West Shrine game where he was named MVP.  Chandler signed with K-State and Coach Bill Snyder out of high school before enrolling at Coffeyville Community College.

 

In 2005, as a freshman for CCC, Chandler collected 64 tackles, including two for losses, along with three interceptions and forced a fumble.  Chandler was also named first-team All-Jayhawk Conference.  Chandler helped lead the Red Ravens to a No. 9 national ranking, a 9-3 record, a NJCAA Region VI title and a berth in the Golden Isles Bowl.

 

As a sophomore for the Red Ravens in 2006, Chandler repeated as a first-team All-Conference member but also added first-team NJCAA All-American. In 2006 Chandler helped Coffeyville to a No. 13 final ranking, a 7-4 record and a berth in the Top of the Mountain Bowl. As a Red Raven defensive back in 2006, Chandler recorded 70 total tackles during the regular season, including 29 unassisted stops, while forcing three fumbles. Chandler was part of a defensive unit that finished 2006 ranked 12th nationally in pass defense (103.3 ypg) and 16th in total defense (227.2 ypg). The Red Ravens defense that year also finished first in the NJCAA Region VI rankings in scoring defense, allowing just 12.6 points per game.

 

After graduating from Coffeyville in December 2006, Chandler signed with K-State.  While with the Wildcats, Chandler made his first career start against Auburn, registering five tackles and one pass breakup.  On the year, Chandler earned Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors from the league’s coaches after the 2007 season. He appeared in all 12 games, making seven starts at safety. Chandler finished the season seventh on the team in tackles with 54 stops, including 4.5 tackles for loss.

 

Gary is currently single and living in Wichita, Kansas working as a fabrication mechanic at Spirit Aerospace, building commercial airplanes.