High-energy, high-effort outside linebacker is expected to be a key cog of Appalachian State’s defense for a fourth-straight season … motor always runs for the all-conference-caliber performer … has played in all 37 games of his Appalachian State career and made 17-straight starts … has ranked among team’s top five in tackles in each of his three seasons as a Mountaineer … slated to start at outside linebacker for the third-straight season … boasts great speed, length and a nose for the ball to go along with the 100-percent effort that he displays on every play.

2015: Started all 13 games at outside linebacker … ranked fifth on the team and 47^th in the Sun Belt Conference with 61 tackles (4.7 per game) … recorded multiple tackles in all 13 contests … after posting four tackles in season opener against Howard (Sept. 5), turned in one of his finest performances of the campaign with seven stops (all solo) and a tackle for loss at eventual national finalist Clemson (Sept. 12) … in all, recorded 22 tackles over the first  four games of the campaign (four vs. Howard, seven at Clemson, five at Old Dominion on Sept. 26, six vs. Wyoming on Oct. 3) … had six tackles in 59-14 romp at UL Monroe (Oct. 17) … made five stops and was in on a tackle for loss in triple-overtime triumph over 

2014: Honorable-mention all-Sun Belt Conference selection ... appeared in all 12 games, making 11 starts at outside linebacker ... ranked fourth on the team in tackles (44) and sacks (3.0) ... tied for second on the squad with 6.0 tackles for loss ... recorded at least three tackles in 9-of-12 games ... opened the season strong with 26 tackles over the first six games of the season, highlighted by six against both Georgia Southern and South Alabama and five in the opener at Michigan ... had three tackles, a 12-yard sack and a forced fumble at Southern Miss ... went through a bit of a midseason slump with just one total tackle in wins over Troy and Georgia State ... after coming off the bench against Georgia State, returned to the lineup against UL Monroe and recorded a season-high seven tackles and a half-sack in the Mountaineers’ 31-29 triumph ... tallied five stops and sack in win at Arkansas State ... was in on a sack for the third-straight game in victory at UL Lafayette ... closed the season with four tackles and two tackles for loss in finale versus Idaho.

2013: Southern Conference all-freshman honoree ... played in all 12 games as a true freshman ... ranked fourth on the team with 59 tackles despite not starting any games ... also tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles and tied for fourth on the squad with 4.5 tackles for loss ... recorded multiple tackles in all 12 games and had at least four stops in 10-of-12 contests ... seven of his 59 tackles came while covering kickoffs (four) and punts (three) ... made seven tackles in his collegiate debut at Montana ... put together a string of six-straight games with at least six stops against Elon (six), Charleston Southern (seven), The Citadel (six), Samford (eight), Furman (six) and Georgia Southern (nine) ... was impressive in his debut against FBS competition with five stops (four solo) at Georgia ... matched a season high with nine tackles in win at No 24-ranked Wofford ... closed the season with four tackles, including a half-sack, against Western Carolina.

High School: Rated as a two-start prospect by Rivals.com … tabbed as the No. 27 recruit in the state of South Carolina and the nation’s No. 105-ranked outside linebacker by 247Sports … was a two-time South Carolina Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-state honoree, earning the recognition in Class A as a junior in 2011 and in Class AA as a senior in 2012 … also earned all-conference, all-region and all-area honors … 2012 South Carolina North-South all-star game participant … recorded 130 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior and notched 99 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery (all three of which he returned for touchdowns) as a junior … helped lead Abbeville to a 13-1 overall record and the 2011 South Carolina Class A I state championship as a junior and a 13-3 overall record and appearance in the 2012 South Carolina AA II title game as a senior … coached by Jamie Nickles.

Personal: Full name is Kennan Keyon Gilchrist … born Sept. 16, 1994 (turns 21 during season) … son of Carmella and Gary Burton … is the oldest of four siblings … enjoys fishing … majoring in criminal justice ... was a member of Southern Conference academic honor roll.