No. 19 – Los Angeles Rams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position: | Wide receiver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born: | Haines City, Florida, U.S. | September 21, 1997|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight: | 176 lb (80 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
High school: | Haines City (Haines City) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
College: | Florida A&M (2017–2022) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Undrafted: | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Xavier Smith (born September 21, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida A&M Rattlers and was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2023. ContentsEarly lifeSmith was born on September 21, 1997, in Haines City, Florida. [1] He attended Ridge Community High School, then transferred to Haines City High School where he played running back. [2] [3] Being small, at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 155 pounds (70 kg), and without significant statistics, he received no offers to play college football. [4] He developed a highlight film and contacted over 100 college coaches, but received no interest. [4] After he graduated from Haines City, he initially quit playing football, spending 2016 working with Amazon. [4] College careerSmith applied for Florida A&M University in 2017 at the suggestion of his mother, who had attended there. [4] After being accepted, he tried out for the Florida A&M Rattlers football team as a walk-on and ultimately made the team. [4] His brother, Kareem, had previously played with the Rattlers, and Smith wore the same jersey number 19 as his brother had. [3] Smith redshirted as a true freshman in 2017, being a member of the scout team, while becoming a wide receiver. [4] In 2018, he broke out with 52 receptions for 727 yards, being the team leader in both categories as well as a second-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) selection. [2] In 2019, Smith totaled 77 catches for 1,159 yards and 11 touchdowns, being fifth nationally in receiving yards per game, ninth in receptions per game, 10th in receiving yards and 16th in touchdown catches. [2] [5] He received several honors including first-team All-MEAC, BoxToRow All-American, second-team American Football Coaches Association] (AFCA) All-American, and HERO Sports sophomore All-American. [5] The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] Smith recorded 64 catches for 713 yards and three touchdowns in the 2021 season, being the team leader in receiving and placing sixth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). [2] [5] As a senior in 2022, he caught 87 passes for 1,021 yards and 11 touchdowns, being named an HBCU All-American and All-SWAC while leading the conference in receiving. [4] [6] He ended his collegiate career with 44 games played and 193 catches for 2,599 yards. [2] He was invited to the HBCU Legacy Bowl all-star game following the 2022 season, where he caught six passes for 85 yards and a touchdown while being named the offensive MVP. [4] [7] Professional career
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Smith signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent. [9] He was waived at the final roster cuts and subsequently re-signed to the practice squad. [10] After having spent the entire season on the practice squad, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Rams on January 16, 2024. [11] Smith was waived by the Rams on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad. [12] He was elevated to the active roster on September 21, and made his NFL debut the following day in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers. With under a minute remaining in the game and the score tied, Smith's 38-yard punt return to midfield helped set up the Rams' game-winning field goal. He was signed to the active roster on October 17. [13] Related Research ArticlesBrian Gordon Tyms is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Florida A&M. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers as undrafted free agent in 2012. He has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts, Orlando Apollos, and Salt Lake Stallions. Cooper Douglas Kupp is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Washington, where he won the Walter Payton Award as a junior, and was selected by the Rams in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. Kupp had a breakout season in 2021 when he became the fourth player since the AFL-NFL Merger to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Kupp received the Offensive Player of the Year Award and was the MVP of Super Bowl LVI; Jerry Rice is the only other wide receiver to accomplish those feats in a career. Phillip Howard Dorsett II is an American professional football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). 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Raymond Calais Jr. is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft. He has also played for the Los Angeles Rams, DC Defenders, and Michigan Panthers. Bennett William Skowronek is an American professional football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwestern and Notre Dame, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft. Jake Funk is an American professional football running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland. In Maryland's four games during the 2020 season, which was shortened due to COVID-19, Funk averaged 129 rushing yards per game. 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Stephen Austin Trammell is an American professional football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rice. Jaquarii Roberson is an American professional football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Wake Forest and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Roberson holds the single-season record for receiving yards per game (102.9) at Wake Forest. Drake Stoops is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. He is the son of former Sooners head coach Bob Stoops. References
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