By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
Special to Hays Post
In all his wildest dreams, Hayden Gillum says he couldn’t have imagined the scenario that unfolded the past six years – or the one that stretches in front of him now.
Gillum, after starting his football career at Kansas State University as a walk-on in 2018, is in Nashville, Tenn., the next several weeks, training in preparation for the Big 12’s NFL Pro Day in March.
Sure, he was no different than any little kid growing up playing football in Plainville, saying he was going to play in the NFL some day.
But the winding road that took him to this point was probably different than he could have ever even guessed it would be.
“It was always a dream to play in the NFL,” he said. “But when you actually walk that path, it’s never how you planned it. I couldn’t have possibly dreamed up such a ride.”
And what a ride it’s been for Gillum.
Fortunately for Gillum and other athletes at Plainville, their high school coach had a lot of experience of playing and coaching in college and could advise them on what to expect at the next level.
Grant Stephenson had played at tradition-rich Division II Pittsburg State University and was a graduate assistant at Texas Christian University in the Big 12 and at D-II Fort Hays State University before taking over the head job at Plainville High School from 2015-22.
“I tell them that college football is different than high school football, that everyone is good at that level,” said Stephenson, who now coaches and teaches at Thomas More Prep-Marian in Hays. “You really have to toe the line in college. You have to be patient and wait for your opportunity – and work hard, very hard.”
Gillum took that advice to heart.
He played several positions in high school, but his greatest strength might have been defense, where he led the Cardinals in tackles all four years. Gillum said he didn’t have a preference what side of the ball he played on in college. He just wanted to play.
After he made a name for himself on special teams, the Wildcats moved the 6-foot-3, 300-pounder to the offensive line, where he filled in at a couple positions before working his way into the starting lineup at center last year.
A K-State fan since he was a youngster, Gillum soon found himself living the dream of playing for the Wildcats.
It was at KSU where he met his wife — another lifelong Wildcat fan, Preston Reid, the daughter of former Kansas State basketball players Josh Reid and Brit (Jacobson) Reid.
He eventually earned a scholarship, was named a team captain, earned All-Big 12 honors for both his work on the field and in the classroom and helped the Wildcats win the Big 12 championship in 2022.
“It was such a great opportunity to be part of that program,” he said, “so to win the conference championship for K-State was special.”
The Wildcats were ranked in the top 20 in the nation heading into their bowl game this past season. A lot of players heading to the NFL chose to bypass their team’s bowl games. Not Gillum.
“That was never an option for me,” he said. “I wanted to finish out my time at K-State with my teammates and coaches.”
His college career couldn’t have ended any better. The Wildcats, selected to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla., jumped out early on North Carolina State and held off the Wolfpack en route to a 28-19 victory.
Besides earning another ring, Gillum was pleased what it means to the program.
“To beat a good ACC school like North Carolina State is so good for the program and the young guys moving forward,” he said.
Now, he can concentrate on his own personal goals.
“It’s all about getting in the best shape I can, learning, practicing, lifting, running, honing in on diet and health,” he said of his pre-draft training regimen.
It’s a lot of work, but he is embracing the challenge as he eagerly awaits the Big 12 Pro Day. It’s the first time for a conference-wide pro day instead of the traditional pro days on each campus. And Gillum is looking forward to it.
“I think it’s a good thing, because it allows me to go side by side with all the other people I’m competing against,” he said. “It can give you a boost for sure.”
He says he couldn’t have gotten this far without a lot of support from family, friends and coaches and that he is pleased that his wife is able to be by his side through it all. Preston graduated with a degree in management information systems and works remotely as a sales engineer for a cybersecurity company.
Gillum has a bachelor’s degree in professional strategic selling in addition to an MBA. He knows he will be successful in whatever he chooses to pursue — partly because of all the connections he has been able to make through football.
But he is hoping that is down the road a few years and that the Big 12 Pro Day reaps benefits for him come April and the three-round draft.
“I love playing football and being able to play the sport that I love. It’s the best job that I could ever ask for,” he said. “I’ve come this far and believe I am capable at playing at the next level. God led me down this journey for a reason. This is where I’m called to be at this time.”
Stephenson agreed, saying that one of Gillum’s most notable characteristics is his faith.
“Hayden definitely puts his faith and his family first in everything that he does,” Stephenson said. “No matter how this NFL experience goes, he is going to be successful.”