Marshall University Athletics
2019 Football Roster
Roster
Xavier Gaines
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 221
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Frostproof, Fla.
- High School:
- Lake Wales
R-SENIOR SEASON (2020): Threat as a receiver, tight end, running back and quarterback who started all 10 games at tight end … Narrowly missed leading the team in receiving … Caught 28 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns … Also had 10 carries for 40 yards … Attempted one pass … Third on the team in all-purpose yardage … Rewarded for his efforts by being selected for the Conference USA all-conference first team at tight end … Opened the season with three receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown against EKU … Was on the receiving end of Grant Wells’ first collegiate touchdown pass, a 22-yard connection in the first quarter vs. EKU … Caught two passes for 68 yards against Appalachian State … Had a 67-yard non-scoring reception vs. the Mountaineers … Set a career high with seven receptions against UMass … Had his first career game with two receiving touchdowns against the Minutemen … Three receptions for 57 yards against MT … Three catches for 40 yards against Rice … Only caught one pass in the C-USA Championship Game, but it went for 70 yards and a touchdown to pull the Herd within 2 points late in the fourth quarter … The 70-yard reception vs. UAB in the conference title game was the longest pass play for Marshall in 2020 … Now has three of the seven longest completions to a tight end in program history … Only tight end in MU history with three career receptions of 60 yards or longer … Prior to the 2020 season, was added to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List as college football’s most versatile player.
R-JUNIOR SEASON (2019): One of the most versatile players in college football … Electrifying playmaker saw action in 13 games, including two starts at tight end … Also played quarterback, receiver and running back … Stuffed the stat sheet with 27 receptions for 306 yards and three touchdowns … 26 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns … Completed 1 of 3 passes for 33 yards … Finished fifth on the team in all-purpose yardage … One of two players in Conference USA with 150-plus rushing yards and 300-plus receiving yards … Opened the season with a 4-yard touchdown reception against VMI … Had three catches for 26 yards and two rushes for 14 yards at Boise State … Ran and caught a touchdown pass in a win against Ohio … 26-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against the Bobcats, and a 43-yard reception for a score in the fourth quarter … Finished with three rushes for 52 yards and three catches for 53 yards against Ohio … Caught four passes for 32 yards against Middle Tennessee … Completed his only pass of the season in a win against ODU … Also had three catches for 48 yards against the Monarchs … Two receptions for 74 yards in a win at Rice, including a season-long 63-yard reception … Three carries for 18 yards against Louisiana Tech … Again scored on the ground and through the air, this time against FIU, with a 20-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and an 18-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of the win against the Panthers … Finished with five rushes for 33 yards and one reception for 18 yards against FIU.
R-SOPHOMORE SEASON (2018): Played in all 13 games, including one start at tight end … Versatile player who can play in the backfield, in the slot or at quarterback … Finished sophomore season with 13 receptions for 213 yards and one touchdown … Averaged 16.4 yards per catch, which was No. 1 on the team … Rushed for 4 yards … Attempted a pass in the Gasparilla Bowl win against USF … Caught a 33-yard pass in a win at Miami (Ohio) … Broke out with three catches for 60 yards against Eastern Kentucky … Career long reception of 39 yards against EKU … Two receptions for a career-high 54 yards at Virginia Tech … 34-yard connection came on a touchdown toss from QB Isaiah Green early in the fourth quarter … The touchdown was Gaines’ first in college … Team’s second-leading receiver in the bowl game with three catches for 51 yards.
R-FRESHMAN SEASON (2017): Successful move to tight end in the offseason … Became a valuable contributor on special teams.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2016): Redshirted.
HERD FILE: Born September 25, 1996 … Runs the 40 in 4.53 seconds ... Had offers from numerous schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Iowa State, Kentucky, Miami (FL), Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin ... Widely regarded as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation ... Threw for 1,290 yards with 12 TDs as a junior with 665 rushing yards and seven more scores ... Rated a four-star prospect by ESPN.com and Scout.com.
