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55 DAYS TO 2021 KICKOFF: Hayden Gillum

In which BracketCat counts down the 55th day until the 2021 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State offensive lineman Hayden Gillum.

#55 Hayden Gillum
Backup center Hayden Gillum (55) saw his most extensive playing time yet in 2020, playing in six games as a reserve and on field goal protection.
Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images

NOTE: Kansas State has elected to advance players’ classification even though the 2020 season did not affect eligibility. Those who wish to take advantage of this extra year will be listed as a (“super”) senior again after their original eligibility would have been exhausted.

#55 Hayden Gillum

Redshirt Junior | 6-3 | 290 lbs. | Plainville, Kansas
Hayden Gillum
Hayden Gillum
Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
  • Position: Offensive Line
  • Previous College: None
  • Projection: Second-String
  • Status: Preferred Walk-On

Hayden Tyler Gillum (b. Oct. 20, 1999) is a preferred walk-on offensive lineman from Plainville High School who redshirted in 2018 and saw action in one game in 2019, playing in a reserve role against Bowling Green. He entered 2020 as the backup center.

Gillum, who is majoring in professional strategic selling, saw action in six games last season as a reserve offensive lineman and on field goal protection. He also picked up second-team Academic All-Big 12 honors.

A four-year letter-winner at Plainville under head coach Grant Stephenson, Gillum earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior from The Topeka Capital-Journal, while he was a first-team honoree by The Wichita Eagle as a senior and an honorable mention pick as a junior after helping the Cardinals to earn an 11-2 record and become the state runner-up.

Gillum led his team in tackles all four years and was the second all-time leading tackler in the history of the league with 354 total tackles, including 206 solo stops, 14 sacks and five fumble recoveries. He also blocked four field goals and picked off three passes.

Gillum lettered four years in basketball in high school, and one year in track and field. His brother, Hadley, finished up his basketball career at Fort Hays State University in 2017-18.