A former Wildcat walk-on is getting his shot at playing professionally.
Offensive lineman Hayden Gillum, a native of Plainville, was picked in the fifth round of the United Football League (UFL) draft by the Houston Roughnecks.
After walking on and redshirting in the 2018 season, Gillum saw some action during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
In 2021, he saw action in all 13 games, mainly in field goal protection.
Then, in 2022, the Gillum started all 14 games, he picked up All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades. He was in the middle of an offensive unit that averaged 208.3 rushing yards per game, ranking 15th in the nation, the Wildcats’ best mark since 2016 (231.8). He only surrendered one sack on the year according to Pro Football Focus, which came at Iowa State.
Gillum helped lead K-State to a Big 12 Championship at the end of the season, en route to the school’s first Sugar Bowl.
Finally, last season, Gillum was one of several senior offensive lineman who chose to come back for a super-senior season. He started all 13 games at center en route to All-Big 12 honorable mention accolade from the league’s coaches. He was not called for a penalty among his 940 offensive snaps and helped the Wildcats rank in the top 10 in school history in 32 game or season categories, including a school-record 30 passing touchdowns, No. 2 rankings in offensive yards per game (445.2) and first downs (310), and a No. 3 showing in total yards (5,788).
K-State finished the season in the top 30 nationally in 11 offensive categories, including scoring (10th – 37.1 points per game), rushing (11th – 204.1 yards per game), third down conversions (11th – 47.9%), rushing touchdowns (12th – 32) and first downs (12th – 310). He was also voted a team captain for the 2023 season.
Gillum earned a minicamp invite for the Chicago Bears following this year’s NFL draft.
Recently, Gillum’s former teammate, quarterback Adrian Martinez, led the Birmingham Stallions to a UFL championship and was named the UFL MVP.
Last season, multiple former Wildcats were on UFL rosters in addition to Martinez, including wide receiver Kade Warner (San Antoinio) linebacker Elijah Sullivan (Birmingham), defensive back Kiondre Thomas (Houston), center Noah Johnson (Michigan), kicker Matthew McCrane (D.C.), tight end Briley Moore-McKinney (D.C.), offensive lineman Abdul Beecham (St. Louis) and linebacker Elijah Lee (St. Louis).
