2024 signee Xavier Gayten prepping for arrival at Mississippi State

2024 Mississippi State signee and On3 four-star athlete prospect Xavier Gayten capped off an impressive senior season last November at Brookhaven High School. These days, Gayten is remaining active in other sports and is looking for more success.

In that final prep season, Gayten rushed for 2,042 yards and 25 touchdowns, and also had a pair of touchdowns on kickoff returns. He ended up as State’s highest-rated signee in the Class of 2024 and is listed as the nation’s No. 8 athlete and the state’s No. 6 prospect by On3.

“I am running track now and doing powerlifting,” remarked Gayten. “And I just advanced to the state championship meet in powerlifting. In track I am doing the high jump, the 100 and 200 meters and the 4 x 2 (relay). I really didn’t have track last year because I pulled my hamstring and I really didn’t get to run last year. So far my best 100 meters time is a 10.95 and I want to crack that 10.2.”

All in all, Gayten is also working to get stronger and more prepared for the rugged SEC. Later this spring he will turn his focus to football training but for now, he is getting help in other areas with other sports.

“I’ve just been trying to stay in shape,” the 6-foot Gayten added. “I am not really doing any football drills but I am making sure I stay in the weight room with powerlifting. I am trying to get stronger and bigger, and I am 191 pounds now.”

During his recruiting process, there was a lot of intrigue on Gayten’s future position with the Bulldogs and whether he would start out on offense or defense. But in recent talks with head coach Jeff Lebby, Gayten expects to begin his Bulldog career at running back.

“Coach Lebby wants me to play running back,” noted Gayten. “He said he would to have me on offense and he is ready for me to get down there so he can work with me on the field. And I know I am ready to get on the field and put some work in so we can get started.”

While Gayten initially committed to Mississippi State’s previous staff, he has spent the past couple of months getting up to speed with Lebby’s new staff, including running backs coach Anthony Tucker. Gayten was able to meet Tucker for the first time during his official visit back in December and likes what he sees from Tucker so far.

“Coach Tucker is a real good man,” Gayten said. “He is real passionate about the sport and when you look at his stats from other schools, he’s not just talkig it, he is doing it. That is one thing I like about him and he’s a real good man.”

In a few more months, Gayten will make the permanent move to Starkville and enroll in June to begin classes and offseason workouts with his new Bulldog teammates. And after his recruiting process ended in December, he feels a lot of stress taken off his shoulders.

“It’s a big relief,” mentioned Gayten. “Before it was stressing at first when you are always wondering where you will go. But once you sign, you can calm down and all of it is over with. So it’s been good and now I can just focus on getting prepared for Mississippi State.”