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Turn on the Jets! FAMU football receiver Xavier Smith reacts to combine 40-yard dash

gerald thomas iii, tallahassee democrat
·2 min read
16

That wasn't 'The Flash' that you saw.

It was Florida A&M All-American wide receiver Xavier Smith.

He's currently in New Orleans for Monday's HBCU NFL Combine and will compete in the HBCU Legacy Bowl postseason all-star game on Saturday.

Smith, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, stepped up for his 40-yard dash on Monday and had an astonishing time that was clocked between 4.38 and 4.39 seconds according to ESPN NFL Nation Reporter Turron Davenport.

"That was my plan to come out and show that I can run really fast and run routes," Smith said in an interview with NFL Network's Steven Wyche. "I've shown that I can run, have the route-running ability, and that I can play this game at a high level.

"I'm just continuing to do what I've been doing. I've already been training, so I'm just sticking to what I've been taught over this whole process."

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Florida A&M University wide receiver Xavier Smith (19) runs the ball during a game between Florida A&M University and Fort Valley State University at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.
Florida A&M University wide receiver Xavier Smith (19) runs the ball during a game between Florida A&M University and Fort Valley State University at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.

Smith is one of a quartet of Rattlers that participated in the HBCU Combine and will compete in the Legacy Bowl alongside running back AJ Davis, kicker Jose Romo-Martinez, and punter Chris Faddoul.

Smith will begin practicing for Saturday's HBCU Legacy Bowl on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The former FAMU football walk-on from Haines City and his fellow Rattlers will play for 'Team (Eddie) Robinson' to face 'Team (Jake) Gaither.'

In his final college football season, Smith hauled in 87 catches, 1,021 yards, and 11 touchdowns with FAMU. The All-SWAC and HBCU All-American receiver led the conference in those categories.

"I can play at a high level even though I came from an HBCU," Smith said. "I can still produce the same way that I did at FAMU and showed that I can be an All-American. I can be the same on the next level."

The HBCU Legacy Bowl will be broadcasted live on NFL Network, Saturday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University 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 wows audience with speed at HBCU Combine