By GARRETT WELLBROCK
Tiger Media Network
Photo by Cayden Sanders
For Gavin Meyers, Thursday night at Lewis Field Stadium felt like a homecoming.
The Fort Hays State University linebacker, who spent the past three years at Kansas State University, returned to his hometown this summer and suited up for the Tigers in their season opener against Angelo State.
Though FHSU fell 28-7, Meyers stood out with 10 tackles — including half a tackle for loss — in his first game back on the same field where he starred for Hays High School.
“It was pretty awesome coming back for the home crowd,” Meyers said. “Back in high school, it was great to have that home feel, and just getting to come back and do that again and be in that atmosphere was really cool. I was really excited to be back in this environment.”
Meyers’ path back to Hays carried plenty of twists. He was rated the No. 5 overall prospect in Kansas by Rivals in 2022, was a first-team all-state pick and the Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year. At Hays High, he broke the school record for career tackles with 384 and capped his senior season with 124 stops, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
On the wrestling mat, he went 37-0 as a senior to win a state title.
But after limited playing time at Kansas State, Meyers decided to return home. The connection with FHSU defensive line coach Layton Hickel, his former defensive coordinator at Hays High, helped seal the move.
“I got the opportunity to come back home and play for Coach (Chris) Brown and the Tigers, and I’m super grateful and super blessed,” Meyers said. “We grinded all summer, and I was grateful to come back and get close with the boys. We got a lot to work on, but it’s a long season ahead of us.”
Meyers now lines up alongside All-MIAA linebacker John Johnson, forming the Tigers’ new duo in the middle of the defense.
“We kinda base it off iron sharpens iron,” Meyers said. “When one of us is down, we just lift the other person up and make sure they’re in the right headspace. One thing I always say is good play, bad play, next play — that’s the mentality we have to have.”
Brown said Meyers’ addition is already paying off.
“It’s great to have him,” Brown said. “He’s physical, he’s aggressive. You can tell he’s still trying to learn what we’re doing defensively, but once he picks it up, he’s going to be a solid force for us.”
Brown also pointed to the value of keeping local talent like Meyers close to home.
“That’s what it’s about, getting the best kids in the area,” Brown said. “If there’s a kid at Hays High or TMP that can help us win ballgames, we’re going to go after them. We want them to stay home, play in front of their community and the people that support them and show what they can do.”
For Meyers, that chance has finally arrived.
This story was written as part of INF 322: Sports Writing, a course in the Department of Informatics at Fort Hays State University.
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