Hokie Gajan never needed convincing about where he wanted to play college football. The Baker High School standout had LSU close to home and firmly in his heart.

“Nobody could have pulled me away from LSU,” Gajan said in a 2013 interview later quoted by LSU Athletics. That loyalty became a defining part of a football life that stretched from Tiger Stadium to the New Orleans Saints’ backfield and, eventually, the radio booth.

At No. 81 in LSU Football Report’s countdown, Gajan represents a combination worth remembering: productive running, versatility, leadership and a lasting connection to Louisiana.

A Tiger willing to do the work

Gajan played at LSU from 1977 through 1980, beginning under Charles McClendon and finishing under Jerry Stovall. During his first two seasons, he shared the backfield with All-American Charles Alexander and contributed on special teams.

His responsibilities included work that did not always appear in the rushing totals. As a fullback, Gajan helped clear running lanes for Alexander, while also taking opportunities at tailback.

Stovall, who recruited Gajan, remembered a player whose effort never depended on whether the stadium was full. Speaking to WAFB after Gajan’s death, he said, “He practiced Monday through Friday as hard as he played on Saturday.”

That description gives context to Gajan’s career. His value came from the intensity he brought to the job, whether he was carrying the football or helping someone else advance it.

Production beyond the backfield

Gajan’s most productive college rushing season came in 1978, when he gained 611 yards on 130 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. He also delivered a memorable special-teams play: a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Wyoming on December 2, 1978.

The return illustrates a part of his game that can be overlooked. Gajan could provide both steady backfield production and a sudden change in field position.

In 1979, he became LSU’s leading rusher with 568 yards on 134 carries, scoring four rushing touchdowns. His progression from supporting Alexander to leading the team’s ground game showed that he could handle a larger role.

A captain in his final season

Gajan finished his LSU career as a permanent team captain in 1980, sharing that distinction with linebacker Lyman White. He contributed 316 rushing yards that season and caught 18 passes for 131 yards, scoring once on the ground and once through the air.

His college résumé included:

• 1,563 rushing yards on 363 carries.
• Six rushing touchdowns.
• 31 receptions for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
• 38 kickoff returns for 890 yards.
• A 99-yard kickoff-return touchdown against Wyoming.
• LSU’s rushing lead in 1979.
• Permanent team captain in 1980.

The range of those contributions matters. Gajan carried the ball, caught passes, returned kicks and accepted blocking assignments, giving LSU several ways to use him.

Making his opportunity count in New Orleans

The Saints selected Gajan in the 10th round of the 1981 NFL Draft, 249th overall. He appeared in 45 regular-season games from 1982 through 1985, building a productive professional career from that late-round opportunity.

His strongest rushing season came in 1984, when he gained 615 yards on 102 carries, averaging 6.0 yards per attempt, with five rushing touchdowns. He also caught 35 passes for 288 yards that year.

Gajan’s NFL career totals were:

• 1,358 rushing yards on 252 carries.
• 11 rushing touchdowns.
• 63 receptions for 515 yards.
• Two receiving touchdowns.

Knee injuries eventually ended his playing career. His football knowledge, however, gave him another way to remain involved.

A familiar voice with a player’s understanding

Gajan moved into the Saints’ scouting department before becoming the team’s radio color analyst in 2000, working alongside Jim Henderson. His experience as both a player and scout gave him a broad foundation for explaining the game.

For listeners who had never watched him at LSU, broadcasting became their introduction to Gajan. For those who remembered his playing days, the voice belonged to the same Louisiana football figure they had followed for years.

Gajan died on April 11, 2016, at age 56. The Saints Hall of Fame honored him that year with the Joe Gemelli Fleur de Lis Award, recognizing his contributions to the organization.

His LSU story remains worthy of its own attention. Before the scouting reports and radio broadcasts, there was a back from Baker who wanted to be a Tiger, became the team’s leading rusher and finished his college career as a captain.

Sources

• LSU Athletics. Popular Former Football Star Hokie Gajan Dies, 56. Biographical background and Gajan’s statement about choosing LSU. 
• WAFB. Former Baker High, LSU Coaches Remember Strength, Leadership of Hokie Gajan, April 2016. Jerry Stovall’s recollections. 
• LSU Athletics. Football Annual Statistical Leaders and Permanent Team Captains and Postseason Awards. 
• LSU Athletics. 2025 Football Media Guide. Career kickoff returns and kickoff-return touchdowns. 
• Sports Reference. Hokie Gajan College Statistics and annual rushing statistics. 
• New Orleans Saints. New Orleans Saints Mourn the Loss of Hokie Gajan, April 12, 2016; Smith, Gajan to Be Honored by Saints Hall of Fame in October, May 17, 2016.