Paul Geelen (97) celebrates his 15-yard touchdown run off a fake field goal Nov. 2 against Missouri State. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Dan Verdun
During its Nov. 2 loss to Missouri State, Southern Illinois pulled off a successful fake field goal. In fact, the play was so successful that the Salukis scored a touchdown.
Furthermore, the 15-yard touchdown scamper came from a player who grew up 4,385 miles from Carbondale.
Junior kicker Paul Geelen, from Utrecht, Netherlands, arrived on campus last spring. At that time, not many people knew of his athletic prowess.
“We would have workouts in the weight room and sprints on the field,” Geelen told Prairie State Pigskin. “That’s where people first started to notice my speed.”
Teammates soon suggested that special plays, including fakes, should be put in place for Geelen, who kicks off, place-kicks and punts for SIU.
“Coaches started to notice and then they didn’t know exactly if they could trust me or how it would end up,” Geelen said. “Eventually I gained that trust. That was really fun and amazing.”
Saluki head coach Nick Hill said the staff was well aware of Geelen’s skills.
“Paul’s an athletic kid,” Hill told SIUSalukis.com. “He played multiple sports growing up. He can run; he’s one of the fastest guys on our team, and utilizing him in some of those situations is key for us.”
Geelen talked how American football found him (and vice versa), along with many other interesting nuggets in our weekly player chat.
Get to know Paul Geelen in our Moving the Chains Q&A.
Walk us through your life in the Netherlands to where you are now.
My dad and sister went on an exchange to school here (in the United States). My dad also played college basketball at (D-II) Ferris State (in Michigan in the mid-1980s), so I knew that I wanted to go (to the U.S.) after my Dutch high school.
In 2020, I went to Harper Creek High School (in Battle Creek, Mich.) for my exchange. I played my first year of American football along with other sports. I knew that I wanted to come back for college football.
But, during COVID there wasn’t much exposure, so I went back home to (the Netherlands) for a year. That’s where the recruiting started.
In 2022, I went to William Jewell College (in Liberty, Mo.) for my first year of college football. From there, I played the sport and transferred to go to the next level. That’s how I ended up at SIU.
How did you get to William Jewell, an NAIA school?
At the end of my high school exchange year I went to a kicking camp, and so I got more exposure from that. I went to another camp after that (and got) a five-star ranking. I got a list of schools that were looking for a specialist.
When I went to my last camp, down in Texas, in January 2022, there was again a list of schools for high school graduates and transfers. William Jewell was on that list. Their admissions were really fast and they could help me out with getting me to the U.S. and getting me a visa.
A lot of it was done online and through Twittter. That’s how I ended up at William Jewell.
Why did you decide to transfer and why did you choose SIU?
After three semesters and two football seasons (at William Jewell), I entered the portal. I wanted to go up to the next level. I felt like I could use a better support system and facilities. I also wanted access to more things like a (nutrition) fuel station. I wanted anything that would help me improve on and off the field. SIU was the right fit for that.
I had contact with several schools, but eventually I was in contact with Coach (Nathan) Frame at SIU. He invited me over for an official visit. That felt good, meeting the coaches and the players and seeing the facilities.
My goal is to go to the next level, and I feel I’m in a much better spot at SIU than at my previous school.
What sports did you play growing up and how did you ultimately choose football?
I have played soccer my whole life, since I was 4 years old. I went to a club in my uncle’s town and from there transferred to a club closer to my home.
In 2019, during summer vacation, I went to my dad’s high school exchange town. They told me I should try to kick a football. The ball just went flying. I ended up kicking a 50-yard field goal. At that time, I did not know what that meant, if it was good or why everyone was acting excited.
But then I started to get a love for football. I joined one of the high school practices and they lined me up for a 50-yard field goal. Once I made it, everyone just went crazy and celebrating. I loved the energy and that’s how I fell in love with American football.
What position did you play in soccer?
I played striker for the most part.
Being from the Netherlands, we assume you’re a big fan of the national soccer team. Who is your favorite player?
It would be (Argentine) Lionel Messi, honestly. He’s the best player in the world. His technical skills are something special.
How did playing other sports like soccer and track and field help you develop as an athlete and American football player?
It helped me to know my body and the athletic motions that I can do. (For example) swinging your leg and how everything has to come together with the coordination to kick it through the sticks and make the ball go in a spiral.
Basketball helped with hand-eye coordination. In track I was a high jumper. That helped with (developing) explosive legs. Soccer really helped with kicking the ball, especially on kickoffs.
Your dad played basketball. You’re listed at 6-foot-6, why did you not pursue basketball?
I grew up playing soccer. Basketball is not that big back home. Everyone plays soccer outside with friends and at school. My love for soccer was much bigger than for basketball.
How often do you get back home?
Usually about once a year, every summer. This year it might also be in the winter as well as the summer.
The total trip is about 10 hours. It’s about one and a half hours from St. Louis to Detroit, and then eight or eight-and-a-half hours from Detroit to Amsterdam.
How far do you live from Amsterdam?
It’s about a 35-minute drive.
Has anyone ever told you that you’re too tall to be a kicker?
They never get that I’m a kicker or a punter. They always just assume that I’m a wide receiver. Sometimes they ask, ‘Why are you playing kicker?’ because of my other qualities.
It’s really just about the way I grew up with soccer, using my legs.
You punt, kick extra points and field goals and kick off. Do you have a preference on any of those or do you enjoy them all?
I like doing them all. It helps out the team. I’ve got the experience now to do all three. Putting points on the board is fun, but so is flipping the field or pinning (your opponent) deep with a punt and a kickoff. It’s just all fun. I love kicking the ball.
In the game against Missouri State, you made a tackle and scored a touchdown on a fake field goal. Describe both.
The tackle was on an onside kick. The (Missouri State) guy acted like he took a knee but took off running. So I closed him down and pushed him out of bounds, tackled him along the sideline. I guess I prevented a touchdown there.
The fake field goal was something we drew up. The holder (Ryan LaHood) tosses the ball (to me) behind his back and then it has a pass option. But, if there is space, you run it in for a touchdown.
(After I got the ball), I saw some people roll out, but I beat (the defense) to the end zone. I used a pump fake, which helped out with putting them (defenders) on the wrong leg.
What’s something that Americans don’t understand about the Netherlands and its people?
It could be several things. Some people don’t think we know how to drive or that we drive on the left side of the road. Or it could be what we eat or how we behave.
I would say Dutch people are very straight forward. Sometimes Americans like to be nice or maybe sugarcoat some things, but Dutch people would tell you straight up how it is.
What were some of your perceptions of America before you got here, and how did the reality turn out?
Before I came to the U.S., I really thought everyone got up at 5 a.m. to work out and better themselves and create an amazing life. (Laughs) I realize that not everyone in the U.S. is like that. Some people can be pretty lazy.
Maybe it’s because I’m focused on the athletic side, but that’s what I thought – everyone up at 5 a.m. doing a workout.
When you arrived at SIU, who helped you to get acclimated?
Coach Frame, my special teams coach, showed me around. My teammates helped by telling me things about campus and things off campus.
Do you have a favorite spot on campus or in Carbondale that you like to go?
I really like the facilities. I spend a lot of time there. Even in my free time I go there to work out, take a nap, go to the athletic training room or hit the field. There are so many things to do. Sometimes I shoot some hoops. The facilities are really my favorite part.
What are you studying at SIU and what are your goals for the future?
Marketing. I’m a business person. I’d like to have my own business and work with people. That definitely interests me.
I would like to go to the (National Football) League as a specialist.
Do you see yourself as a kicker or a punter at the next level, or is that a wait-and-see proposition?
I’d say wait and see. I’m doing both duties right now. With the (body) frame that I have, I might fit more for a punter.
What’s the longest punt you’ve ever had?
In practice I think it was a 78-yard punt. It was like 68 yards in the air.
In a game, it was like 65 yards.
What’s your longest as a field goal kicker?
In game is 50 yards, and ever is 63 (in practice).
What would you say your range is?
It really depends on the conditions, but I’d say about 55 yards in a game situation to be comfortable.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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