Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Dream coming true for Gilstrap at alma mater
4/3/2019 6:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – In 2008, a high school senior by the name of Kenneth Gilstrap committed to play college football at Middle Tennessee.
Rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, he had world-class speed and decent ball skills, projecting as a cornerback in the college game. It was his personality and knowledge of the game that really spiked the interest of then third-year MT head coach Rick Stockstill, though.
While Stockstill was on a visit at Gilstrap's house, the 18-year-old told his future head coach he had a goal: to coach college football alongside the man who recruited him.
What seemed like a farfetched goal at the time has now come to fruition for Gilstrap. Just over six years after lacing his cleats up for the Blue Raiders for the final time, he was named the program's next cornerbacks coach on March 31.
"It's been a blessing," Gilstrap said. "I'm excited to be home, and it's a great deal to be at the college you played at. It's just exciting.
"My goal was always to work for Coach Stock. I was a part of Stock's first 10-win season … I'm just blessed to be back."
After committing to the Blue Raiders after his senior football season, Gilstrap set out to show off the skillset they'd be inheriting.
Before leaving Miller Grove High School in Lithonia, Georgia, he became a seven-time Junior Olympic champion and two-time World Team participant while achieving All-American status in the 100 and 200 meters by Track and Field News. He also was invited to participate on the USA Youth National track team.
Gilstrap put that speed on display on the gridiron as a freshman at Middle Tennessee. He played both cornerback and some wide receiver, subsequently making the Sun Belt Conference All-Freshman team despite missing the last four games of the season due to a knee injury.
He would play four more years for the football program, taking a redshirt as a sophomore while recovering from the knee ailment, and also participated on MT's track and field team. He won two 55-meter titles at the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
When Gilstrap graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2013, he stayed around Murfreesboro, serving as an assistant coach at Blackman High School before becoming a graduate assistant on Stockstill's staff. It's where he learned the finer details of coaching and, maybe more importantly, recruiting.
"He does a nice job recruiting and brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the group," MT's third-year defensive coordinator Scott Shafer said. "He's a great person to have on board."
Two years later, Gilstrap would have to leave the Blue Raider nest. His winding path would teach him a lot in a short time.
With a graduate degree in hand, he moved to Arkansas-Monticello for a season then to Florida A&M in 2018. Then, in February, he was named defensive backs coach at UT-Martin, though he would only stay for a few days before taking a job back at Arkansas-Monticello as defensive coordinator.
When former Middle Tennessee cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator Steve Ellis left in February for South Florida, Stockstill reached out to Gilstrap to gauge his interest, even though the assistant had already switched jobs twice in the matter of a few weeks.
Despite having already made a couple of job switches, Stockstill's offer was one Gilstrap couldn't resist. For the third time in a couple of months, he packed his bags, this time heading for his alma mater.
It may not have come exactly how he planned it, but Gilstrap can say he's now accomplished the goal he laid out for himself as an 18-year-old. And he wouldn't trade it for the world.
"I'm a young guy, but now [the players] have to embrace me as a coach," he said. "Coach Ellis left some big shoes to fill … but these guys welcomed me in. I'm working for a great DB coach in Coach Shafer that's going to groom me, and I'm excited."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
Rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, he had world-class speed and decent ball skills, projecting as a cornerback in the college game. It was his personality and knowledge of the game that really spiked the interest of then third-year MT head coach Rick Stockstill, though.
While Stockstill was on a visit at Gilstrap's house, the 18-year-old told his future head coach he had a goal: to coach college football alongside the man who recruited him.
What seemed like a farfetched goal at the time has now come to fruition for Gilstrap. Just over six years after lacing his cleats up for the Blue Raiders for the final time, he was named the program's next cornerbacks coach on March 31.
"It's been a blessing," Gilstrap said. "I'm excited to be home, and it's a great deal to be at the college you played at. It's just exciting.
"My goal was always to work for Coach Stock. I was a part of Stock's first 10-win season … I'm just blessed to be back."
After committing to the Blue Raiders after his senior football season, Gilstrap set out to show off the skillset they'd be inheriting.
Before leaving Miller Grove High School in Lithonia, Georgia, he became a seven-time Junior Olympic champion and two-time World Team participant while achieving All-American status in the 100 and 200 meters by Track and Field News. He also was invited to participate on the USA Youth National track team.
Gilstrap put that speed on display on the gridiron as a freshman at Middle Tennessee. He played both cornerback and some wide receiver, subsequently making the Sun Belt Conference All-Freshman team despite missing the last four games of the season due to a knee injury.
He would play four more years for the football program, taking a redshirt as a sophomore while recovering from the knee ailment, and also participated on MT's track and field team. He won two 55-meter titles at the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
When Gilstrap graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2013, he stayed around Murfreesboro, serving as an assistant coach at Blackman High School before becoming a graduate assistant on Stockstill's staff. It's where he learned the finer details of coaching and, maybe more importantly, recruiting.
"He does a nice job recruiting and brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the group," MT's third-year defensive coordinator Scott Shafer said. "He's a great person to have on board."
Two years later, Gilstrap would have to leave the Blue Raider nest. His winding path would teach him a lot in a short time.
With a graduate degree in hand, he moved to Arkansas-Monticello for a season then to Florida A&M in 2018. Then, in February, he was named defensive backs coach at UT-Martin, though he would only stay for a few days before taking a job back at Arkansas-Monticello as defensive coordinator.
When former Middle Tennessee cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator Steve Ellis left in February for South Florida, Stockstill reached out to Gilstrap to gauge his interest, even though the assistant had already switched jobs twice in the matter of a few weeks.
Despite having already made a couple of job switches, Stockstill's offer was one Gilstrap couldn't resist. For the third time in a couple of months, he packed his bags, this time heading for his alma mater.
It may not have come exactly how he planned it, but Gilstrap can say he's now accomplished the goal he laid out for himself as an 18-year-old. And he wouldn't trade it for the world.
"I'm a young guy, but now [the players] have to embrace me as a coach," he said. "Coach Ellis left some big shoes to fill … but these guys welcomed me in. I'm working for a great DB coach in Coach Shafer that's going to groom me, and I'm excited."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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