2024 Football Roster
Hayden, Keshawn

Jersey Number 49
Keshawn Hayden
- Position:
- Defensive Lineman
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 250
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Hometown:
- St. Louis, Mo.
- High School:
- East St. Louis H.S.
- Major:
- Sport Management
- Twitter:
- @KeshawnHayden
- Instagram:
- 44snipe
Bio
2024
As a redshirt freshman defensive lineman, saw action in 11 of 12 games … Listed as a backup defensive end on the depth chart … Concluded the season with seven tackles (six solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, and three quarterback hurries … Made two tackles in season finale at Northern Illinois (11/30) … Totaled a quarterback hurry vs. Bowling Green (11/5) … Made one solo tackle, 1.0 tackle for loss with a quarterback hurry at Eastern Michigan (10/19) … Finished with a solo tackle vs. Ohio (10/12) … Made one tackle (one solo) with a quarterback hurry at Illinois (9/14) … In season opener, made two tackles (one solo) with 0.5 tackle for loss for one yard vs. Central Connecticut State (8/29).
2023
As a freshman defensive lineman, saw action in three games … Listed as a backup defensive end on the depth chart … Redshirted season … Finished the year with two tackles … Made an assisted tackle in season finale vs. Toledo (11/24) … Saw action at Western Michigan (11/7) … Made first career tackle in first career appearance vs. Northern Illinois (10/31).
HIGH SCHOOL
Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2023 … Graduated in December 2022 from East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Ill., where he played two years of varsity football for Head Coach Darren Sunkett and Rod Felton … Named an IHSFCA honorable mention All-State selection following his senior year … Two-time All-Metro First Team Defensive selection … First Team All-Academic Team selection … Registered 91 total tackles (61 solo), 11 sacks, recovered one fumble, and scored a touchdown during his senior season … Made a season-high 14 tackles (12 solo) vs. Creekside, Ga. … Made 10 tackles and a sack vs. Crete-Monee … Registered nine tackles and two sacks vs. O’Fallon … Made eight tackles with two sacks vs. Oak Lawn Richards … Scored a touchdown vs. Belleville East … Led the Flyers to a 12-2 overall record, including 11 straight wins and a Class 6A state championship … Led the Flyers to a 57-7 win over Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge in the Class 6A state title game as a senior … Made 100 tackles and finished with 10 sacks and a fumble recovery as a junior … Made 13 tackles vs. De Smet … Made two sacks and nine tackles vs. Edwardsville … Guided the Flyers to an 11-3 overall record, a Class 6A state playoff appearance, a Class 6A state runner-up finish, and shutouts of all of their conference opponents … Dropped the state title game 37-36 to Cary-Grove … Attended and played his first two high school football seasons at Duchesne … Ranked the No. 26 recruit on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Super 30 List … Ranked a three-star recruit by ESPN.com and On3.com … Rated a two-star recruit by Rivals.com and 247sports.com … Honor Roll student … Dean’s List student …
PERSONAL
Born Keshawn Hayden on February 21, 2005 … Son of Lekisha Hill … Also resides with his grandfather Ronald Hill … One of four siblings: Kanisha, Antwon, and Anisha … Has a twin brother Antwon JoJo Hayden, who will sign with Illinois … Nickname is “Kiki” … Grandfather competed at Indiana State … Hobbies and interests include video games … Favorite home-cooked meal is mashed potatos and Salisbury steak … Committed to Central Michigan on June 21, 2022 … Selected Central Michigan because both the school and football program made him feel like home and had a family feel … Chose Central Michigan over offers from Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Miami, Ohio, Memphis, Toledo, Northern Iowa, Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Bowling Green, SIU, and Lindenwood … Majors in Sports Management.
ARTICLES
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/football/super-30/no-26-haydens-enhanced-size-will-make-him-a-handful-at-east-st-louis/article_7d12d860-136c-11ed-8076-0baf622f819b.html
As a redshirt freshman defensive lineman, saw action in 11 of 12 games … Listed as a backup defensive end on the depth chart … Concluded the season with seven tackles (six solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, and three quarterback hurries … Made two tackles in season finale at Northern Illinois (11/30) … Totaled a quarterback hurry vs. Bowling Green (11/5) … Made one solo tackle, 1.0 tackle for loss with a quarterback hurry at Eastern Michigan (10/19) … Finished with a solo tackle vs. Ohio (10/12) … Made one tackle (one solo) with a quarterback hurry at Illinois (9/14) … In season opener, made two tackles (one solo) with 0.5 tackle for loss for one yard vs. Central Connecticut State (8/29).
2023
As a freshman defensive lineman, saw action in three games … Listed as a backup defensive end on the depth chart … Redshirted season … Finished the year with two tackles … Made an assisted tackle in season finale vs. Toledo (11/24) … Saw action at Western Michigan (11/7) … Made first career tackle in first career appearance vs. Northern Illinois (10/31).
HIGH SCHOOL
Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2023 … Graduated in December 2022 from East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Ill., where he played two years of varsity football for Head Coach Darren Sunkett and Rod Felton … Named an IHSFCA honorable mention All-State selection following his senior year … Two-time All-Metro First Team Defensive selection … First Team All-Academic Team selection … Registered 91 total tackles (61 solo), 11 sacks, recovered one fumble, and scored a touchdown during his senior season … Made a season-high 14 tackles (12 solo) vs. Creekside, Ga. … Made 10 tackles and a sack vs. Crete-Monee … Registered nine tackles and two sacks vs. O’Fallon … Made eight tackles with two sacks vs. Oak Lawn Richards … Scored a touchdown vs. Belleville East … Led the Flyers to a 12-2 overall record, including 11 straight wins and a Class 6A state championship … Led the Flyers to a 57-7 win over Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge in the Class 6A state title game as a senior … Made 100 tackles and finished with 10 sacks and a fumble recovery as a junior … Made 13 tackles vs. De Smet … Made two sacks and nine tackles vs. Edwardsville … Guided the Flyers to an 11-3 overall record, a Class 6A state playoff appearance, a Class 6A state runner-up finish, and shutouts of all of their conference opponents … Dropped the state title game 37-36 to Cary-Grove … Attended and played his first two high school football seasons at Duchesne … Ranked the No. 26 recruit on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Super 30 List … Ranked a three-star recruit by ESPN.com and On3.com … Rated a two-star recruit by Rivals.com and 247sports.com … Honor Roll student … Dean’s List student …
PERSONAL
Born Keshawn Hayden on February 21, 2005 … Son of Lekisha Hill … Also resides with his grandfather Ronald Hill … One of four siblings: Kanisha, Antwon, and Anisha … Has a twin brother Antwon JoJo Hayden, who will sign with Illinois … Nickname is “Kiki” … Grandfather competed at Indiana State … Hobbies and interests include video games … Favorite home-cooked meal is mashed potatos and Salisbury steak … Committed to Central Michigan on June 21, 2022 … Selected Central Michigan because both the school and football program made him feel like home and had a family feel … Chose Central Michigan over offers from Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Miami, Ohio, Memphis, Toledo, Northern Iowa, Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Bowling Green, SIU, and Lindenwood … Majors in Sports Management.
ARTICLES
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/football/super-30/no-26-haydens-enhanced-size-will-make-him-a-handful-at-east-st-louis/article_7d12d860-136c-11ed-8076-0baf622f819b.html
Elijah Gordon and Angel Flores Post-Game Press Conference vs Michigan
Sunday, September 14
Coach Matt Drinkall Post-Game Press Conference vs. Michigan
Saturday, September 13
9.12.25 - Football Insider
Friday, September 12
Jordan Kwiatkowski Post-Game Press Conference at Pitt
Saturday, September 06