Home is where the heart is.

And Florida A&M wide receiver Xavier Smith's heart undoubtedly resides somewhere in the confines of Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Smith, from Haines City, has amassed an exceptional career when he plays on his home turf.

In four years, he has 124 receptions for 1,756 yards and 20 touchdowns, along with a 18-2 record at Bragg.

"That's a crazy stat line," Smith said. "Bragg just has that atmosphere that's hard to even explain. I can never disappoint when I'm at Bragg because these are the people that I know."

Smith will play his final regular season home game and possibly the last overall at Bragg Saturday, when the Rattlers (6-2, 4-1 SWAC) face Southern University (5-3, 3-2 SWAC).

Kickoff is 6 p.m.

It serves as a complete lap around the legend of Smith, born when the then-sophomore scored the game-winning touchdown catch from quarterback Ryan Stanley to lift the Rattlers over the Jaguars, 27-21 in their 2019 meeting.

That happened on his 22nd birthday.

"God just works and everything comes full-circle," Smith said. "It started with (Southern) and now it's going to end in Bragg with them and then take its own course.

"It's a blessing. I still haven't lived those moments because I'm still in the moment. I probably won't hone in on that moment until I'm completely done playing football and I look back like 'Dang, I did all of that.'

"What I did here at FAMU still hasn't hit me."

MORE RATTLERNEWS COVERAGE 

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► Rebound year: FAMU women's basketball Staysha Allen's devotion can help take the Rattlers to new heights

► 'No action required: FAMU earns a flawless NCAA Academic Performance Program audit

[H]umble Beginnings

When Smith throws up the 'H' hand gesture after a big play, it's serves as a symbolic reminder of his hometown. Haines City, in Polk County, is nicknamed 'The Heart of Florida.'

Seeing some of his peers fall short of chasing their dreams or make life-altering decisions shouldered Smith with the responsibility to represent his home in every chapter of life.

"That's why I rep and put on for Haines City so hard," Smith said. "Everyday, you see those guys who you grew up with and thought were going to the league and make it. Then you see what happens when they throw their life away, messed up or not have the right guidance to lead them.

"It's like you want to be different. You don't want to be that dude that was a could've or should've and had the talent. It's so much talent in that small area and I tell people those are the best athletes that I've ever seen."

For that, he tries to visit often to be a guiding light for the youth of Haines City.

"I want those younger guys to know that you can make it from that small city," Smith said. "It's a lot of talent, but not many opportunities, guidance, or people who feel like you can make it out of there.

"I always go back and talk to the 'jits' all the time because that's me. That's where I'm from. And that's what made me."

Smith attended Ridge High School in as an underclassman and transferred to Haines City High School as an upperclassman.

After graduating in 2016, he took a gap year and worked at Amazon.

Smith officially enrolled at FAMU in 2017. This move followed the legacy of his mother, Angenetta Sanchious, and his brother and former FAMU football player, Kareem Smith.

"My mama and brother definitely played a big part in me coming to FAMU," Xavier Smith said. "We've been watching FAMU since were young, so we followed it because this is what we knew and grew up on.

"I remember going to the (Florida) Classic and I was like 'one day I want to play in the Classic.' And now I'm playing in the Classic.

"I saw LeRoy Vann, Kevin Elliott, (Philip) Sylvester, (Curtis) Pulley. I watched some of those guys play and now I'm doing some of the same things they did."

Smith embraced change to position himself for greatness

Smith wasn't always the speedy, big play wide receiver that he now is on Saturdays for the Rattlers.

He began as a running back and converted to a wide receiver while he redshirted his true freshman season in 2017-18.

Since then, Smith has earned All-MEAC and AFCA All-American honors. In fact, he was All-MEAC as a redshirt freshman and a walk-on athlete in 2018-19.

"At first, it was frustrating because I couldn't run every route," he said. "I didn't like it. I just wanted them to hand me the ball and let me do the rest. But once I understood that I didn't have to beat all 11 guys or make a whole lot of guys miss is when I started to like receiver better.

"I started working at it by putting in countless hours in my backyard and working out by myself because I wanted to be the best no matter what because they wasn't going to put me at running back.

"Once I started seeing progress, I kept it going. And once I catch the ball, I'm back in that running back mode."

Smith is now on track to get the All-SWAC honor that eludes him as he leads the conference in receptions (63), receiving yards (703), and receiving touchdowns (eight).

"Xavier Smith is a dude," FAMU quarterback Jeremy Moussa said. "I knew he was going to be a guy at receiver and I had to built a chemistry with him quickly.

"I have faith in him when he's manned up against anybody because of the work we put because of the work we put in together, but also the type of player he is."

Smith is now touted as a coveted HBCU wide receiver prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft.

But it isn't a surprise to him. He always thought he was destined for greatness.

"I always knew in my heart that I was good and could play," he said. "But in my early days, I guess nobody else saw or believed what I could do.

"When I first came here, I remember being in the stands. I couldn't even be on the sideline with my team, so that kind of gave me that fire. I felt tried and disrespected. That's why you see the passion and the pain behind the helmet and how I play the game.

"I wanted to prove it to myself that I am who I say I am and that's how it all started."

This comes a year after he tore a thumb ligament, forcing him to change the way he catches the ball.

He uses the injury as a constant reminder as he takes the field.

"I still got the scar and I always look at it," Smith said. "Even now, my thumb still gets stiff on me when it's cold out.

"It was hard to adjust to that injury because I couldn't catch the same and it took a long time to figure it out."

The 'Twin Tower' Smith Brothers' legacy will live eternally at FAMU and Haines City

Kareem and Xavier's closeness in age allowed them to form a relationship that many brothers don't have.

Most times it's a gap between siblings, but the two are only 14 months apart in age.

This allowed them to push each other in every facet while growing up together.

Especially on gaming consoles.

"People don't know that he is a true game freak," Kareem, 26, said. "When we were growing up, you'd have to wake up before him if you wanted to play the game that day.

"He'd be on NCAA Football 'Road to Glory' all day. He's a just a chill, laid back guy."

They also occupied the same roster on two separate occasions.

The brothers played with each other at Ridge Community for two seasons before Kareem graduated in 2014 to go on to play at FAMU.

Kareem was the Bolts' starting quarterback. Xavier was a running back and receiver.

"Our connection has always been there," Kareem said. "I always tried to get him the ball because I knew he would make something happen every single time.

"Our mama love talking about her twin towers. It's been a good ride."

The brothers practiced together at FAMU in the 2017 season when Xavier arrived as a redshirt and Kareem's final season. But they never got to formally play in a game together.

When Kareem graduated out of the program, it would be Xavier to be the next No. 19 for the Rattlers.

"I wanted him to make his own legacy and told him he didn't have to wear 19 if he didn't want to and start his own thing," Kareem said. "But he told me that he wanted to do it and I loved it — it brought a smile to my face. I want my son to wear 19 when he comes to FAMU."

It just so happened that Xavier was assigned that number. But he originally thought that he would be left in the shadows as 'Kareem's little brother.'

"I did want to create my own at first, but coach gave me the jersey and I said I'm going to rock it," Xavier said. "It's better that I wore that 19 because we could probably start a legacy.

"I feel like one day that number is going to be legendary and going to be something that people are going to remember for a long time here at FAMU."

Freshly after graduating, Kareem gave Xavier the most simplest advice while trying to earn a scholarship.

Ball.

"I told him to just ball while he was walking on," Kareem said. "You can't control who give out scholarships, but if you go out there and ball, coaches will be ready to hand you everything.

"I been knew that he was an All-American player and NFL talent. Now the world gets to see it. And it's great seeing my brother get the recognition that he deserves."

Xavier's competitiveness stemmed from him having that older brother to up look to.

So when he got an opportunity to play at FAMU, he closely studied what Kareem did in college to succeed when his turn came.

"My brother was always better than me growing up," Xavier said. "So, my drive came from trying to beat him since I never could do it. 

"When I saw him go to college, I knew I could probably go too. I'd watch some of his games try to do the same thing or put my own spin to it. Sometimes, I'd be like 'man, I can't do that.'

"He kind of showed me the ropes and I wanted to do exactly what he did."

Xavier's desire to be like his big brother jumped out in last week's homecoming game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff when he attempted a pass from a reverse trick play as Kareem would at Ridge.

But Xavier's pass ended in a tipped interception as he tried to fit the ball between double-coverage to fellow receiver David Manigo.

"I was confident that I could put it in between when I should've just threw it over the top," Smith said. "My teammates were laughing on the sidelines, but I was in the moment and like 'Dang, I threw a pick and we could've scored.'

"All we did was laugh about it when we watched it on the film and because I really tried to do that. It was a funny moment, though and I enjoyed it."

It only took one day for Smith to prove his worth to Willie Simmons and staff

Xavier Smith's first active season perfectly aligned with Willie Simmons taking over as FAMU's head football coach and receivers coach Jelani Berassa's first year on the job.

But Simmons was unfamiliar with Smith.

That was until the team's first preseason training camp practice.

"We didn't know much about him and had him listed as a second team wide receiver going into the first day of practice," Simmons said. "Going into practice two, he was a first team wide receiver. So, it didn't take very long for us to see that we had a special talent.

"His work ethic and his approach to the game is something that is truly inspiring. That's a testament to his character and his unwillingness to quit.

"He had a vision and a plan the good Lord has blessed him to be one of the best receivers in America. Just to see his maturation over these five years makes us proud as coaches.”

Berassa is works directly with Smith in practice as the main orchestrator of the 'Rac Boyz 2.0.'

And he's had a front row seat as Smith ascended as the receiving corp's leader.

"From the day I met 'Zay,' he's been a hard worker," Berassa said. "He had a goal that he wanted to reach and he doesn't take a day off.

"That work ethic never went away and that's the product that people get to see on Saturdays. The football Gods blessed him with a lot of ability, but he uses all of his talents to put his best foot forward. 

"He always feel like he can do better and has put it all together. That's the product of a kid really developing his game, body, and football IQ."

The tears will flow at Bragg on Saturday

When Smith arrives at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Saturday, he will take a moment to reflect and soak in the indelible memories that occurred in his four years.

Saturday's game will be a chance for the Rattlers to extend their 14-game winning streak which is the second longest in the FCS.

It will also be Senior Day for he and his final year counterparts.

"I haven't thought about it, but I know it will be emotional because this is my home and where I'm bred at," Smith said. "This field gave me a chance in school and an opportunity.

"I know I'm going to get emotional and cry or something because it's time for me to leave home. But I still got to play football the way that I know how to play."

This chapter of Smith has had its share of wins and losses, but many stories will get told down the line about the walk-on wide receiver from Haines City that once delivered packages before becoming an All-American.

And he did this all while obtaining his degree in Health Leisure and Fitness.

From being a kid watching the Rattlers to being one of the faces of FAMU football, he can't choose one singular moment as his best memory of being at the Highest of Seven Hills.

"It's too many and I just can't point out one," Smith said. "I really can't even think about everything that I've did at FAMU.

"It's been a hell of a ride, but I'm not ready for Saturday. I hope this week takes longer than any other week.

"I'll definitely enjoy it, though."

Game Information

Who: Florida A&M (6-2, 4-1 SWAC) vs. Southern (5-3, 3-2 SWAC)

When: Saturday, at 6 p.m. ET

Where: Bragg Memorial Stadium

Broadcast/Radio: ESPN+, Rattler Sports Network

Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Xavier Smith filled with emotions entering final home game