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Michigan Center's Kaydin Hiland (23) runs the ball during a MHSAA Division 6 high school football regional final at Gull Lake High School in Richland on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. Constantine won the game over Michigan Center, 33-14. J. Scott Park | MLive.com
JACKSON – Kaydin Hiland’s first two weeks of varsity practice as a sophomore couldn’t have gone much worse.
The up-and-coming talent for the Cardinals was primed to be a mainstay for his squad in 2019 but a pair of unlucky breaks forced him to be an observer instead of a playmaker.
“He broke both of his arms when he was a sophomore, and I know that just killed him because he just loves the game of football and he wants to play,” said Michigan Center head coach Troy Allen. “He’s sitting there at practice trying to run around and catch the ball with his casts and just stay involved in any way he can, but I think those fluke injuries really gave him a chance to become a better student of the game.”
For Hiland, the disappointing start to his varsity career only fueled him to make his junior season a memorable one.
“It was very frustrating, especially after putting in the work to get ready to be a contributor on the varsity team as a sophomore,” he said of his injuries. “I worked really hard that offseason because I knew I was going to get pulled up for varsity and then I broke my thumb during the first week of practice. After that, I was going for a tackle during the second week of practice and I ended up breaking my radius (forearm) in my other arm. It was tough but it really made me appreciate football that much more.”
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MORE: Images from Michigan Center’s opening week of football practice
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The 2020 season proved to be a memorable one for all involved due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Hiland still managed to make the most of a bad situation.
Hiland finished with 607 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on 60 carries and added 12 receptions for 212 yards and four receiving touchdowns in just seven games. His explosive playmaking abilities were a key factor in Michigan Center’s 6-2 season that was highlighted by the program’s first-ever district championship and an appearance in the regionals.
“I think once we got past that first-round game of the playoffs and we saw what we were capable of doing as a team, it kind of opened up our eyes a little bit,” said Hiland. “We know if we keep pushing ourselves every day that we can definitely go farther this year and that’s our goal.”
The compact running back for the Cardinals also packs a mighty punch in the weight room, where he routinely benches 285 pounds and squats nearly 450 pounds.
“I’ve had some monsters in the weight room in my time at Michigan Center but he’s just a freak,” said Allen. “He’s just so strong and he’s in there lifting more than most of the linemen on most days. I think if he can put it all together this year he has a chance to be one of the best to ever come through here.”
Allen has seen growth in Hiland as a leader as well, where he mixes his work ethic and competitiveness on the field with a friendly demeanor off the field.
“He’s always been super talented, but what I’ve been the most impressed with is his growth as a leader,” Allen said. “He hits the weights, he outworks everybody, and he’s just someone that everyone else kind of gravitates toward. He’s got a mean streak when he’s out competing on the field but he’s a sweet kid off the field. Everybody loves him, and I think that makes everyone else want to play harder around him.”
Hiland and junior Mitchell Corwin will be focal points for the Cardinals in 2021, as they attempt to spearhead an aggressive offensive attack alongside a veteran offensive line.
“I think if we get can get Kaydin and Mitchell going at the same time, it’ll help them both be productive,” said Allen. “Kaydin needs someone like Mitchell to take the pressure off of him from time to time and not make our offense so predictable. We never really got both of them going at the same time last year, so our goal is to use them as a one-two punch for our offense.”
As Hiland prepares for his final season wearing a Cardinal uniform, he does so with a heavy heart. The Michigan Center community continues to honor the memory of Dawson Brown, Richie Mays Jr. and Kole Sova, who tragically passed away on July 17 due to carbon monoxide poisoning in a camper at a Lenawee County campground.
Hiland wants to make sure he not only leaves his mark on the Michigan Center football program but does so in a fashion that would make his former teammates proud.
“I always enjoyed watching Dawson Brown play,” he said. “He was one of the fastest guys in the area when he was playing at Michigan Center and he always put in the work behind the scenes too. All of those guys worked hard during the offseason and some of those guys were lifting buddies with me when I was coming up.
“It always motivated me to work harder when I watched them play because I wanted to be like them when I got to the varsity level. I learned a lot from them about doing the little things in order to be successful and I’ve always tried to model myself after them.
“I want to do everything I can to make sure they’re remembered.”
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