| Kennan Gilchrist | |
| Image Upright: | 0.9 |
| Birth Date: | 13 September 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Abbeville, South Carolina |
| Import: | yes |
| Position1: | Linebacker |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 2 |
| Weight Lb: | 225 |
| High School: | Abbeville (SC) |
| College: | Appalachian State |
| Nfldraftedyear: | 2017 |
| Nfldraftedround: | Undrafted |
| Playing Team1: | Dallas Cowboys |
| Playing Team2: | Houston Texans |
| Playing Team3: | San Antonio Commanders |
| Playing Team4: | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career Footnotes: | |
| Career Highlights: |
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| Cfl: | kennan-gilchrist-2/163612 |
Kennan Gilchrist (born September 13, 1994) is a former Canadian football linebacker in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Toronto Argonauts. He also was a member of the Houston Texans in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Appalachian State University.
Gilchrist attended Abbeville High School. As a junior, he tallied 99 tackles (8 for loss), 7 sacks, 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery; all three turnovers he returned for touchdowns. He contributed to the team having a 13-1 record and winning the 2011 South Carolina Class A I state championship. He received Class A South Carolina Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state, all-conference, all-region and all-area honors.
As a senior, he collected 130 tackles, 9 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He contributed to the team having a 13-3 record and reaching the 2012 South Carolina AA II title game. He received Class AA South Carolina Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state, all-conference, all-region and all-area honors. He participated in the 2012 South Carolina North-South all-star game.
Gilchrist accepted a football scholarship from Appalachian State University. As a true freshman, he appeared in all 12 games as a backup linebacker, posting 59 tackles (fourth on the team), 4.5 tackles for loss (tied for fourth on the team) and 2 forced fumbles (tied for the team lead). He had 9 tackles against Georgia Southern University and Wofford College.
As a sophomore, he appeared in all 12 games with 11 starts at outside linebacker. He registered 44 tackles (fourth on the team), 3 sacks (fourth on the team) and 6 tackles for loss (tied for second on the team). He had 7 tackles and a half-sack against the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
As a junior, he started all 13 games at outside linebacker. He collected 61 tackles (fifth on the team). He had 7 tackles (one for loss) against Clemson University.
As a senior, he totaled 89 tackles (second on the team), 11 tackles for loss (led the team), 3 sacks and one forced fumble. His forced fumble against University of Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs on third-and-goal in overtime, nearly gave his team a win against the No. 9 ranked team in the nation. He made 15 tackles (3.5 for loss) against Texas State University, receiving Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors.[1]
Gilchrist was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2017 NFL draft on May 12.[2] He was released before the start of the season on September 2, 2017.[3]
On September 26, 2017, he was signed by the Houston Texans to the practice squad, where he spent the rest of the season.[4]
On August 31, 2018, he was released.[5] On December 11, 2018, he was signed to the practice squad.[6] On December 23, 2018, he was released from the practice squad.[7]
In 2018, he signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football. In March 2019, the league filed for bankruptcy after 8 games.[8]
On April 16, 2019, Gilchrist signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.[9] He played in 14 games with 6 starts, making 30 defensive tackles, 4 sacks, one interception and 7 special teams tackles.[10]
He did not play in 2020 after the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was released by the Argonauts on December 15, 2020.[11]