Justin Gardner

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
6-2
Weight:
180
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Charlotte, N.C.
High School:
Shiloh
Prev School:
Hutchinson CC

CAREER: A two-year letterwinner after transferring from Hutchinson CC... Played in 19 career games, including five starts as a junior in 2020.

2021: Saw time in eight games this season as a reserve cornerback... Tallied two pass breakups against TCU a year after tallying four against the Horned Frogs in 2020... Started five games in 2020, picking off two passes and totaling nine passes defended... Played in two games at Oregon State in 2018.

2020: Saw action in nine games and earned starts in each of the first five Big 12 contests… Totaled seven passes defended and two interceptions on the year, tying for fifth and seventh in the Big 12, respectively… Also recorded 18 tackles… Returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown against Kansas, the first interception-return touchdown of his career… Also had a pick in K-State’s win at No. 3 Oklahoma… Carded four passes defended at TCU, the most by a Wildcat since 2018… His four pass breakups against the Horned Frogs tied for the fifth most nationally in a game during the 2020 season.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Played one year at Hutchinson under head coach Rion Rhoades... Viewed as the 18th-best community college cornerback in the Class of 2020 by ESPN and 247Sports... Earned second team all-conference honors... Totaled 19 tackles to go along with 3.0 tackles for loss, one interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery... Had a season-best four tackles against Coffeyville, while he had 2.0 TFLs against Garden City... His interception was against Dodge City, while he had two of his three forced fumbles on the year at Fort Scott... Played with current Wildcat Kirmari Gainous.

OREGON STATE: Played in two games during the 2018 season for the Beavers, including the Southern Utah game when he carded a pair of tackles... Redshirted the 2017 season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Shiloh (GA) under head coach Ryan Andrews... Earned honorable mention all-region honors from the Atlanta Journal Constitution following his senior season when he registered 29 tackles and three interceptions... Also an honorable mention all-county pick.

PERSONAL: Justin Gardner was born October 11, 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina... Son of Jackie Seegars... Has one brother, Bobby Gardner, and one sister, Ashley Seegars... Majoring in nutrition and health.