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32 DAYS TO 2022 KICKOFF: Evan Cantu

In which BracketCat counts down the 32nd day until the 2022 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State running back Evan Cantu.

#32 Justin Silmon
Could Maize freshman Evan Cantu follow in the footsteps of Justin Silmon (32) as a running back who earns significant playing time as a walk-on?
Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via 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.

#32 Evan Cantu

True Freshman | 5-8 | 192 lbs. | Wichita, Kansas
Evan Cantu
Evan Cantu
Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
  • Position: Running Back
  • Previous College: None
  • Projection: Redshirt
  • Status: Walk-On

Evan Cantu (b. Nov. 14, 2003) is a walk-on running back from Maize High School South who plans on majoring in business who likely will redshirt in 2022 as he puts on more weight.

Cantu prepped under head coach Brent Pfiefer at Maize South, where he earned first-team all-state honors as a senior after rushing for a school-record 2,107 yards with 27 touchdowns — also a school record — to go along with 119 receiving yards.

He was named a finalist for the Sports in Kansas Player of the Year award, while he was a first-team all-league selection after posting five rushing touchdowns in four different games for the Mavericks. (His is a truly uplifting story, as told by The Wichita Eagle.)

Cantu broke the school’s single-game rushing record with 402 yards in the first round of the state playoffs against Wichita Heights. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior and earned honorable mention all-state recognition.

Cantu also was a two-time state powerlifting champion and participant in the state track meet in the 4x100.