3 DAYS TO 2016 KICKOFF: Elijah Sullivan

Goal No. 3: UNITY. Come together as never before.

Elijah Sullivan (b. May 13, 1997) is an athletic and physical player who redshirted during the 2015 season. He will be in the mix for playing time immediately at linebacker and had five tackles (four solo) for White in the spring game.

This promising linebacker is that rarest of creatures — a player from SEC country who we stole away from a prestigious SEC program. Sullivan is a testament to Andre Coleman and his developing Southeastern pipelines.

Sullivan chose K-State over offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia State, Georgia Tech and Marshall, plus interest from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and LSU. He was committed to Auburn for some time, but the Tigers bungled it.

Literally hours before National Signing Day, Auburn began telling Sullivan he was going to have to grayshirt, despite his being the Tigers' third commitment and sticking with them through nine months. So he started looking around.

His high school and now college teammate, Duke Shelley, put him in touch with Andre Coleman, and unlike so many other K-State Signing Day stories that end in unhappiness, the Wildcats were able to net a rare NSD steal.

Sullivan played under head coach Bryan Lamar at Tucker High School, where he helped to lead the Tigers to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the state playoffs. He also prepped with Justin Hughes. Watch his highlights here.

Viewed as the 26th-best outside linebacker nationally by Scout.com and ranked 28th by Rivals.com, Sullivan also was regarded as the eighth-best outside linebacker in the southern region by Scout.com.

Sullivan was an honorable-mention all-state selection and All-DeKalb County pick by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2014, and was named to the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) All-Region 2-AAAAAA team.