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]