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Xavier Gayten bringing explosive speed to Bulldog backfield in 2026

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk12/19/25RobbieFaulkOn3

Before the 2026 season even arrives, there’s still unfinished business for Mississippi State, but the offensive players can’t help but think about what could be on the way.

At least one part of Jeff Lebby’s offense is coming into focus as the Bulldogs appear to have a three-headed rushing attack in the form of Kamario Taylor and his running backs Fluff Bothwell and Xavier Gayten. All three have announced their returns to Starkville for 2026 and will get to give fans a taste of what to expect when they play Wake Forest in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on January 2 in Charlotte, NC.

Taylor gives the Bulldogs a unique, dual-threat quarterback that puts pressure on the defense in multiple ways. Bothwell is a bruising runner that gets the tough yardage. And Gayten? Taylor simplified what he brings to the field.  

“Speed,” Taylor said of Gayten’s abilities. “We’ve got our 1-2 punch. We have Fluff, JJ (Hill), Kolin (Wilson), but X is our home run hitter. He can break it from 99 (yards) then he can get tough yards too when we need critical first downs he can get those type of yards too. He brings a lot to the table and we’re very happy to have him back.”

Gayten settling in as running back in the SEC

A native of Brookhaven, Gayten’s athletic ability was well-documented coming out of high school. On3 was higher on his potential than anyone as he was the highest rated player in the class with a four-star ranking as the No. 250 player nationally and the No. 8 athlete in the country.

The early thoughts on Gayten was that he would be a defensive back when he arrived in Starkville and he’s shown some of those instincts on special teams through the first two years. After Lebby and running backs coach Anthony Tucker saw his film, they realized that he was too explosive not to find a way to get the ball in his hands. Rushing for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns his senior year backed that up.

Gayten has played in all but one game through his first two seasons with 32 carries, 264 yards and three touchdowns. This season, he worked his way up the depth chart and backed up Davon Booth and Bothwell to the tune of 24 carries, 149 yards, two touchdowns and a team-high 6.2 yards per carry.

Now, he’s going to be seeing his production increase. It’s all good with Bothwell who has built a strong bond with his fellow sophomore.

“It’s going to be great with both of us switching out and playing football,” Bothwell said of he and Gayten. “He’s a great teammate. Off the field, it’s great to know him as a person. Our bond is special and we’re going to be fun to watch.”

As for the rest of the room, the future appears to be extremely bright.

Tucker has a true freshman in Wilson that got reps this season and a veteran in Seth Davis who is working his way back to 100% after a devastating knee injury in 2023. Along with those backs, Lebby and Tucker brought in the state’s top two runners in Tupelo’s Hill and Gulfport’s Cooper Crosby.

After Bothwell watched the two go blow for blow in the Class 7A state championship in Starkville a couple of weeks ago, he believes the room is in great hands.

“I watched JJ and Cooper in the (state championship) and I told our running back coach Tuck that we’ve got some dudes coming in and it was going to be pretty hard to keep them off the field,” Bothwell said. “It’s going to be great seeing those guys next year and see what they can do. Kolin has been a dude since he first got here and I first met him. He’s going to be a real great player. He had a pretty good spring/fall camp. He’s going to be a great running back.”

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