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91 Xavier Ward

  • Height
    6-2
  • Weight
    275
  • Position
    Defensive Tackle
  • Class
    Senior
  • Hometown
    Freeman, S.D.
  • High School
    Canistota H.S.
  • Major
    Community and Public Health

Biography

PRONUNCIATION


HONORS AND AWARDS
  • Hampshire Honor Society (2021)
  • Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2020-21, 2021)
  • MVFC Honor Roll (2017, 2020-21, 2021)
2021: Was a key contributor on the Jackrabbit defensive line ... started all 15 games ... was named team's Defensive Player of the Week in season opener at Colorado State after recording career-high five tackles ... matched career high of five tackles two games later in shutout victory at Indiana State ... was credited with four tackles, including lone sack of the season, in Hobo Day game versus Northern Iowa ... tallied three tackles in win over second-ranked North Dakota State ... closed season with three-tackle performance in Football Championship Subdivision semifinal at Montana State

2020-21: Was sidelined early in the season due to injury, but played in the final six games with five starts ... made season debut in road matchup at Southern Illinois ... registered three tackles, including one for loss, in regular season finale at North Dakota State ... recorded lone sack of the season in Football Championship Subdivision playoff opener against Holy Cross ... matched season high with three tackles and recovered a key fumble in quarterfinal playoff contest versus Southern Illinois ... notched pair of tackles in national championship game against Sam Houston

2019: Ran his streak on consecutive games started to 26 after starting all 13 games for second year in a row ... began season with a string of four consecutive games with at least a half-tackle for loss, including 1.5 TFLs in home opener versus Long Island ... honored as team's Defensive Player of the Week after three-tackle performance versus Drake ... matched then-career high of four total tackles in Beef Bowl win over Southern Utah, a game in which he also blocked a kick ... recorded solo sacks at Indiana State and Missouri State, as well as home game versus Illinois State ... also forced a fumble versus Illinois State ... closed regular season with two tackles, including tackle for loss, at South Dakota

2018: Started all 13 games on the interior of the Jackrabbit defensive line ... blocked an extra-point attempt in season-opening win over Montana State ... established new career high with four tackles, including half-tackle for loss, in regular season matchup at North Dakota State ... came up with key play in road win at Illinois State by forcing and recovering a fumble deep in Redbird territory to spark 21-point second-quarter outburst ... named team's Defensive Player of the Week in Illinois State game ... matched career high with four tackles in home victory against Missouri State ... recorded three tackles and forced a fumble in Football Championship Subdivision playoff quarterfinal at Kennesaw State

2017: Played in all 14 games in a reserve role as a true freshman ... credited with first collegiate tackle in win at Montana State ... tallied season-high two tackles, including tackle for loss, in back-to-back games against Illinois State and South Dakota ... notched one tackle in each of the Jackrabbits' three Football Championship Subdivision playoff games ... tackle in quarterfinal win over New Hampshire was for loss of two yards ... registered first career sack in semifinal loss at James Madison

BEFORE SDSU: Selected as Corn Belt Conference Most Valuable Player and earned first-team all-state recognition two times at Canistota High School ... member of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 ... totaled 32 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while adding three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior ... also anchored Canistota’s offensive unit with strong blocking for a team that racked up 560 points en route to the Class 9A state title his junior season .. is the school record holder in the shot put and placed second in the event at the 2016 Class B state track and field meet. ... an honor student, he plans to major in exercise science

Statistics

Season:
2021

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 67

    2017Freshman

    Defensive Tackle
    6'2" 270 lbs
    67
  • 91

    2018Sophomore

    Defensive Tackle
    6'2" 280 lbs
    91
  • 91

    2019Junior

    Defensive Tackle
    6'2" 290 lbs
    91
  • 91

    2020-21Senior

    Defensive Tackle
    6'2" 285 lbs
    91
  • 91

    2021Senior

    Defensive Tackle
    6'2" 275 lbs
    91
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