Just the second UNLV underclassman to ever apply for the NFL Draft, Geathers' two-year career with the Runnin' Rebels came to an end when the junior decided to forgo his senior year. The departure of his mentor, co-defensive coordinator Kurt Barber, during the 2007 season helped hasten Geathers' departure from the program.

When the Geathers family gets together, talk immediately begins with their disdain for quarterbacks. His bloodlines include his father, Jumpy, who was a pass rush specialist from 1984-96 in the National Football League, playing for New Orleans, Washington, Atlanta and Denver. His uncle, Jumpy's brother, Robert Geathers Sr., was a defensive end for six seasons in the NFL, playing for Buffalo. His cousin and Robert Sr.'s son, Robert Jr., was a standout defensive end at Georgia and currently plays for Cincinnati.

Geathers lettered four times in football at Andrews High School. He was a jack-of-all trades for head coach Gerald Baxter, competing as a tailback, fullback, linebacker and defensive end for the Yellow Jackets.

He had hoped to follow his cousin, Robert, to the University of Georgia, but he needed to improve his academics. He enrolled at Butler Community College, earning All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference second team honors in 2005. He started 10 games at left defensive end, recording 27 tackles (21 solos), as he ranked second on the team with 7 ½ sacks and fifth with 10 ½ stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also caused and recovered a fumble.

After visiting Eastern Michigan and Ball State, Geathers transferred to Nevada-Las Vegas in 2006. He started eight games at left defensive end and two at right end, but was also bothered by an ankle sprain late in the season. He led the team with 5 ½ sacks and 9 ½ stops for losses while posting 32 tackles (11 solos). He caused three fumbles and had a pair of fumble recoveries, returning one 67 yards for a touchdown in his UNLV debut vs. Idaho State in the season opener.

As a junior, Geathers again led the Runnin' Rebels with 5 ½ sacks. He suffered a concussion in August camp, but did not miss any game action. He started the team's first 11 games at left end, registering 40 tackles (26 solos) with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection.

In 23 games at Nevada-Las Vegas, Geathers started 22 times. He registered 72 tackles (37 solos) with 11 sacks for minus-81 yards, 16 stops for losses of 95 yards and one QB pressure. He caused four fumbles, recovering three others, as he returned one for a 67-yard touchdown. He also deflected one pass.

Positives: Has long arms and good upper body muscle definition, but his impressive weight room strength fails to translate to the football field … Can generate fast twitch fibers, but it is sometimes negated by his lethargic reactions to blockers … Works well in the weight room, but has not yet found that same pace on the playing field … Has a quick initial step (not explosive) that he can dominate with, but needs to use it more consistently … His upper body strength is valid, but again, it is not utilized on every down … Does a good job of separating from tight end and fullback blocks, but only when he keeps his hands active … Stays on his feet to string out plays wide, but is more of a pile inspector when having to work inside … At times, he can generate that burst needed to give him a chance to close on the play in the backfield (best when slanting and angling than taking blockers head on) … Needs to develop a better feel for blocking pressure, but attacks with good effort when he is able to locate the ball … Adequate overall tackler, but most come on uncontested plays … When he stays low in his pads, he can beat the offensive tackle off the edge to force the outside running game back inside … Does a decent job of attacking the cutback lanes, but must keep his hands active to avoid cut blocks … Once he takes down the lead blocker, he is adequate to fill at the point … Plays through trash with adequate agility and when he gets position in front of the ballcarrier, he can explode behind his hits to get knock-backs … Shows adequate quickness to shadow the tight end and running backs in the short area, but needs to do a better job of flipping his hips quickly without losing speed in his pass drops … Not really a classic pass rusher, but when he has a chance to time it up, he has enough of a short-area burst to elude the offensive tackle, but lacks good hand usage in his rush.

Negatives: Lacks ideal size and bulk, but his frame is at maximum growth potential and any additional weight will impact his already marginal-to-adequate timed speed … Does not show the explosive initial burst to surprise a lethargic blocker and when he takes a wide loop into the backfield (tries to avoid blockers too much), he is generally too late to seal the deal on the quarterback … Lacks the leg drive and strong anchor to prevent from being washed out vs. combo blocks, as he has yet to grasp the concept of staying low in his pads, as he tends to pop up and get high in his stance coming off the snap … That, coupled with poor hand placement and usage lets blockers get into his chest too often to lock on and steer … Not active with his hands to get an edge on an offensive tackle and even though he has good natural strength, his "short arm" tactics and failure to defeat reach blocks lets teams get good yardage running plays right at him … Seems to lack awareness to blocking schemes, as he will often run right into the lineman rather than execute angles to slant and avoid … Susceptible to cut blocks, as he does not keep his hands inside his frame to avoid … Lacks ideal change of direction agility, appearing a bit rigid trying to open his hips … Seems lost and lethargic when having to generate long pursuit and plays with an inconsistent motor, taking long stretches off on the field … Struggles to open up his hips and run laterally … Can be violent behind his tackles, but is not always dependable to make the play (gets reckless and over-pursues) … As a pass rusher, he needs a free lane to execute, for if he is blocked, he stays tagged and just does not have enough moves in his bag of tricks to be a valid threat (only one of his 11 career sacks at UNLV came vs. a Top 25 team, getting the rest vs. inferior opponents) … Has the frame to possibly be a pro linebacker, but his lack of foot speed, poor field vision and marginal lateral agility will make him a liability playing there, leaving him to be strictly a situational pass rusher … Does not use his weight room prowess to split double teams and will usually get absorbed trying to shoot inside gaps … Teams have had considerable success running right at him, as his poor anchor will see him lose containment.

Compares To: STANLEY McCLOVER-Carolina … Like McClover, Khari Long and Dan Klecko, Geathers might be a player without a position. He's too small to be an every down defensive end, too slow to play linebacker, lacks great pass rush skills to be an edge rusher and plays the game with marginal instincts. Too many fans get caught up in the art of the sack, but while he has 11 in his two years at UNLV, only one came against a team that could be considered worthy competition. He's sort of like a .250 hitter playing Class AA ball -- nice to have on your bench for some scrum time, but not one who will be able to change the tide of the game. Still, even with another year in college, it was doubtful that he could improve his draft stock.

2006: Saw limited action vs. Texas Christian (11/04) due to an ankle sprain.

2007: Suffered a concussion late in August camp.

Campus: 4.84 in the 40-yard dash … 1.67 10-yard dash … 2.8 20-yard dash … 33-inch arm length … 8 ¾-inch hands.

Combine: 4.97 in the 40-yard dash … 1.66 10-yard dash … 2.83 20-yard dash … 4.49 20-yard shuttle … 7.28 three-cone drill … 28-inch vertical jump … 8'9" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 29 times.

Lettered four times in football at Andrews (S.C.) High School … .Jack-of-all trades for head coach Gerald Baxter, competing as a tailback, fullback, linebacker and defensive end for the Yellow Jackets.

University Studies major … Son of Jumpy and the late Debbie Geathers … Father was a pass rush specialist from 1984-96 in the National Football League, playing for New Orleans, Washington, Atlanta and Denver … Uncle, Robert Geathers Sr., was a defensive end for six seasons in the NFL, playing for Buffalo … His cousin and Robert Sr.'s son, Robert Jr., was a standout defensive end at Georgia and presently plays for Cincinnati … Born Jeremy James Geathers on 6/19/86 in New Orleans, Louisiana … Resides in Anderson, South Carolina.