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MVP! FAMU football's Xavier Smith dazzles the HBCU Legacy Bowl. Recapping his week in NOLA
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- MVP! FAMU football's Xavier Smith dazzles the HBCU Legacy Bowl. Recapping his week in NOLA
To cap off an impressive week, Florida A&M football wide receiver Xavier Smith left one lasting impression.
The NFL Draft hopeful Smith was named the Offensive MVP of the 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl after helping 'Team (Eddie) Robinson' defeat 'Team (Jake) Gaither,' 10-3 at Tulane's Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.
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He finished with six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.
In fact, Rattlers accounted for all of 'Team Robinson's' points with kicker Jose Romo-Martinez making a field goal with punter Chris Faddoul as the holder.
Smith's third quarter receiving touchdown came from Langston quarterback Tripp Harrington. It was also the lone touchdown of the game which ultimately lifted his team to victory.
"(I made the statement) that I could play at a high level," Smith said in his postgame interview with NFL Network's Sherree Burruss. "I can use my speed to get open and I'm a great route runner."
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Florida A&M football wide receiver Xavier Smith (middle) receives HBCU Legacy Bowl Offensive MVP Award from Super Bowl winning quarterback Doug Williams (left) at Tulane's Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana on Feb. 25, 2023
Xavier Smith's HBCU Legacy Bowl Week Timeline
Monday, Feb. 20: Smith's 40-yard dash timed between a 4.38 and 4.39 at the NFL HBCU Combine
Wednesday, Feb. 22: Smith catches the attention of former NFL All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith Sr.
Saturday, Feb. 25: Smith scores game winning touchdown in HBCU Legacy Bowl, named Offensive MVP.
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Xavier Smith postgame examination: "He put on a show. This is what you want to see ― guys come in and show up and show out. And that's what Xavier Smith did. Dominant playmaker. He was that throughout the week and continued to do that in the game. Talk about one of the best route runners ― the patience, the timing, great ball skills and has tremendous playmaking ability. It's his ability to consistently get open that really attracted scouts. He continues to impress. This is a guy that certainly helped himself throughout the week with the way he performed," NFL Network's Bucky Brooks said.
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: Recapping Xavier Smith's at the HBCU Legacy Bowl
