September 23, 2025 • 28 mins
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith sits down with J.B. Long for an episode of Rams Revealed to discuss his journey to the NFL. From emailing college coaches for a spot to almost quitting on his football dreams, tune in to Xavier Smith's inspiring story.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hope your week is off to a great start everyone,
and welcome to a new edition of Rams Revealed. Looking
forward to seeing you at Sofi Stadium for back to
back home games against the Colts and the Niners in
a span of five days. Well, as we found out
the hard way in Philadelphia in Week three, wins and
losses often determined in the NFL by the kicking game,
and that's why we chose this week to sit down
with a special team's ace for your Los Angeles Rams Zagerstein.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Coming back from Philadelphia, How you feeling?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I feel good, a little disappointed, upset, but overall I
feel good. Body's healthy, so you know, it's just ready
to really get back to it.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I think we all feel that disappointment, especially for you,
as I wish you a happy belated birthday. I would
have loved to have had a three to zh starpy
part of your celebration.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
That would have that really would have been the best
part of a birthday celebration, getting that win.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
What's it like to play on your birthday?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Although I'm sure you're used to it as a lifelong
football player in the.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Fall, you know it's special because you know, I get
to do what I love, what I dreamed of since
I was four years old.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I get to do that on my birthday. So you know,
for me, it always been special.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
And each year I got a chance to play on
my birthday, it was always successful.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So I'll wishing you all the best in your twenty
ninth year. Week three of next season, I want to
get a dub.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
On your birthday. Yeah, we're gonna make.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Sure that happen, you know. Fortunately and unfortunately, I think
it's the perfect week to have these special teams ace
with us on the show because when you look back
at that loss to Philadelphia, that game was won and
lost in the kicking game. So tell us about the
third phase and the impact you think it had in
the outcome against the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I think that's, you know, one of the most important
phases of the game, honestly, just because that's the first
phase that takes the field each and every game.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
You gotta kick it off.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
So you know, a lot of times the games are
won and lost in the special team phase game, whether
people realize it or not, where you know, you make
those plays on that phase of the game, sometimes that's
the turning point to give you that momentum or just
sell a win when it's a close game like we
(02:13):
had last night.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Before we zoom in on your role as the punt returner,
which I think is how rams fans know you primarily.
What are some of the other kicking teams that you're
a part of.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I'm on the kickoff and then I'm also on the
punt phase as well.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
We've seen you get some tackles, not just a return man,
but that is kind of your claim to thing so
far in your NFL career. How does one become a
punt returner? Like where in your journey did that become
part of your arsenal?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Honestly, I used to do it when I was younger,
because you know, like they want to put one of
the best athletes back then for them to kick it.
So honestly, I did it when I was younger, and
then I never really did it much in college. So
my first real opportunities being an actual punt returner is
(02:59):
when I came to the Unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
We'll talk about one of those first moments a little
bit later on in this show, but it kind of
leads to my next question, which is is punt returning
something that you or people like you dream of and
really relish and look forward to. Or is it a
role that you play to earn your key on an
NFL roster?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Both honestly, both because you know, when I'm at punt return,
that's me being.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
In my moment, being in my element, and.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
You know I'm able to just be free and be
back then kind of play the game how I kind
of want to play it, So honestly, you know, yeah,
it's to keep the roster spot, But for me, it
is just an opportunity to be free and showcase my abilities.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
What are some of the keys to doing it at
an elite level?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Just just trusting, trusting the guys blocking in front of you,
trusting those ten guys to you know, do their job.
And because I'm looking up and I can't really see
those guys coming, So it's really just having my trusting
those ten guys in front of me, me and allowing
them to create lanes for me to do what I
(04:05):
do best.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
You're not kidding, I mean I'm getting uncomfortable just hearing
you describe it. To be basically all alone in the
seventy thousand seat stadium and having two and forty pounds,
linebackers bearing down on you.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Well, you gotta catch that football. Yeah, that's Daunte. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
And so for me, it's just like being confident as well,
knowing the work that I put in throughout the week,
and then you know, having that connection with those guys
in front of me.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
One other thing, kick return is a lot different than
punt return. I get it, But can you empathize with
those Eagles returners from Week three who are just having
Nrty's knuckleball.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
You know, we've been we've been practicing that, and we've
been working on that since back in OTA's and we
we knew that was gonna that was gonna be that
was gonna be a key to how successful we be
in the kicking game. So you know, it's been it's
been working so far, and we definitely plan to keep
that going throughout the rest.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Of this season.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
One of the other things I liked came from pregame.
I just want to take already behind the scenes a
little bit. I was walking the field and I saw
you reconnecting with Britain Covey.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, and I love that.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Because it made me think, Oh, I wonder how Xavier
felt having the Rams bring in a challenger, so to
speak to your role on this team, But.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
It seemed like you bonded. Yeah, tell me about that
relationship and how it formed in just one summer, just
like healthy competition.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
We know, we know why he was here, and we
both knew, you know, we was competing for that spot,
but it didn't.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Affect the.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Relationship that we could build throughout the process of competing,
like just healthy competition, knowing that we both looking to
have a spot on this roster. So you know, we
both was giving each other tips and we both was
just kind of connecting on the wide receiver and also
on the print return and as well. So it was
(05:58):
basically just you know, embracing that competition and getting the
best out of each other.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You know there was us, yeah speak for themselves. Yeah,
you earned it, you really did.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
And it makes me think there's only like thirty forty
to fifty people in your seats in the entire world
that know what that's like to compete for that role
in that spot. For those who don't know, Britain's back
on the practice squad with the Eagles. He's been one
of the greats at that spot for a couple of years.
Your next opponent is interesting Indianapolis. Did you know the
Colts did not punt on their first twenty.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Drives this season? I haven't.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
They're the first team in the Super Bowl era not
to punt in the first two games of the season.
So all that to say, when you go to work
this week, there's not gonna be a lot of film
right on the Colt punting seams. You're gonna have to
dig deep and do your homework.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Definitely got to go probably to prior seasons or if
that punt it wasn't there, then you know wherever he
was last year to kind of get.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Those three punts in three games, the fewest for an
NFL team since nineteen forty. But anyways, that's not why
we're here to learn more about you and your personal journey.
Tell us about Haynes City, Florida, where you grew up.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Just a small town in Polk County, Florida.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
You know, it's not much.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
There, and you know football is kind of that outlet
for most or basketball or some type of sport. So
you know, just a small town where everybody kind of
knows everybody, and you know, between two metro areas though
right right between Orlando between Tampa, maybe like forty five
(07:32):
from Tampa, maybe like thirty from Orlando.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And Drew and James is from that area. Yes, me
and him, like we grew up together, honestly.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
His dad was my coach at one point of time,
and he always played with my older brother. He was
always one to two years older than me, So him
and my brother they always played together. But we grew
up since we was young playing for the same little
league team and then getting a chance to play with each.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Other in house. And in those days, you were running back, Yes,
what kind of running back? Were you? Scat vat something
like a Dalving Cook or something like that. You know,
had the receiving ability all the way through.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yeah, but I never really played receiver honestly until I
got the FAM you. So I knew I could catch,
you know, but I just wanted to bottle in my hands.
So that's why I always wanted to play running back.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It wasn't a straight line of fam you though, wasn't. Nah,
no offers coming out of high school?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Nah, what do you to? You know?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
I honestly don't know, honestly, if I'm being quite honestly, like,
I really don't know. Because I feel like I was
producing and it could have been circumstances.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
It could have been situations.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
That was, you know, out of my control, but you
know that's something that I couldn't control at that time.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
So what were some of the lengths that you went
to to get the attention of coaches.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Honestly, I emailed a lot of coaches. I went on Twitter,
I was DM and a lot of coaches, just going
through every team and I would find the running back
coach to receive a coach and I would and then
the head coach and I would just type this same
email up each and every time, just hoping to get
a response.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
You know, I never got a response, but it's all.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Good, serious like coach's first name, coaches second name at
college dot edu and hoping that you got something.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, and I responsors never unbelievable. So then what you
just move on with life? That that was the plan,
Honestly I was. I started working at Amazon, and at
that time I was just like, yeah, I'm kind of
done with football. Maybe that's not what's in store for me.
So I started working at Amazon, working with a lot
(09:45):
of guys around the neighborhood. So it was like, you know,
that's what everybody was doing. So it's like, I'm gonna
just do this, and yeah, I was kind of just like, yeah,
I'm done with football. I'm not going to college. It
was people telling me to go to college, but in
my head, I was like, yeah, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
When you say done, is that heartbreaking? Done?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Like I can't believe this didn't work out? Or is
that like I've played football my whole life. I'm gonna
get onto something Yeah, moving on to something else.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Honestly, I was I was okay, you know, like deep
down I was good. I'm like, I'm done, you know,
I didn't want to play.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
It reminds me a little bit of Kobe Durant and
his day's working at FedEx. I't know if that story
has come across your redar, but there's a lot of
parallels there.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, we talked about it.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
What did you learn from that period of time, Like
before we get to FAMI, you that what year or
so you kind of live in the real life. What
did you learn about yourself and the way the world
works and anything that benefited you to this day.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
I knew that ain't what I wanted to do for
the rest of my life. So it was it just
taught me a lot that you gotta be strong and
you gotta be ready for whatever come within that life,
regardless of you know, what you gotta do. And you know,
at that time, I was having to help my mom,
(11:02):
but I really couldn't help her much because I'm only
making ten or eleven an hour and I'm only working four
hours a day, so you know, it wasn't much that
I could do. But it kind of it kind of
opened my eyes to reality that you know, it really
ain't a game, and you know, you got to you
(11:24):
gotta make a way or you gonna driven.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
How did she help you reach the next step of
your journey?
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Just constantly pushing me to, you know, do something, constantly
pushing me to go to college. And it was like
a community college where I'm from. It's called Post State College.
She used to always, you know, tell me to go there,
and I would I ain't gonna lie. I used to
go there and she would like be she would like, say,
register for classes. So I used to go there and
(11:53):
act like I was trying to register for classes, but
I really wasn't trying to.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
So I would just go there.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
I bring up pap us back that just make it
look like I'm trying to get into the school, But
I really wasn't trying to get into school.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
So she just constantly started.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Reaching out to people at FAMU that she knew in
the admission office, and then they ended up sending me
an email in return saying I didn't get accepted, but
you know, if I come and I passed the summer classes,
I could go through this summer Bridge program. I passed
the summer classes, I'd be able to get admitted into school.
(12:31):
Just thinking you can juke safeties in the NFL. You
can't juke mom. Yeah, yeah, Mom, she knew what she
was doing, and she was steadfast about making sure I
was gonna get.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Into school somewhere.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So a lot of college athletes walk ons or what
we call like preferred walk ons.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah, there are people that coaches know about.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Hey, we'd love to have you on the team and
only have this many dollars and resources and scholarships, but
come get into school.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
We got a spot for you. Right.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
That wasn't That wasn't how you became a family walk on.
You had to go through summer school to qualify to
try out on day one.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah, and you did.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Yeah, you did have a little bit of an ace
in the hole though, which is your older brother tell
us about him?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Man, he just liked me.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
But you know, growing up, he always beat me and everything.
So when people always try to ask, you know, who
was better, I always say it was him, because you know,
I could never beat him or nothing. But just honestly,
I'm learning the punt return game from him because that's what.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
He did in college. He did a lot of punt returns.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
So you know, I go back and try to watch
his highlights, see some of the things that he was doing,
you know, and I just try to bring it into
my game.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
So this is Kareem right.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Yeah, and he's a senior for the rattlers as you're
trying to make your way.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
As a freshman.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah, that was his senior year. So is he lobbying
the coaches? Is he putting in a good word for you?
He definitely was in the air, Like, give him a
chance and he gonna show y'all why he desired to
beat hisself.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
All right.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
So, giving that brief backstory that you just walked us through,
what does it mean to get placed on scholarship? Then
just a year or two after you're earning ten eleven.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Dollars an hour. Yeah, it meant.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
It meant the word to me because I knew that
I earned it. I knew that the way that I
was working, I deserved it. So you know, it meant
a lot, And it was just that first step to
showing me that as long as I continue working everything,
that's a payoff for me.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
By twenty nineteen, you have this game against Delaware State.
I'm sure you remember it based on your smile in
the school record four touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Yeah, I mean it's one thing.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
To make a team, another be placed on scholarship, but
to be a guy or the guy? What are you
thinking at that point of your college career.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I got a chance to do something special.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
And just knowing the guys who came before me at
Famue talking about guys like jaque Ninelli came in Lamb,
Kevin Elliott, a guy who Jaquari Nanley broke off.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Jerry Rice records. So it's just like.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Knowing that I did something that he wasn't able to do.
It kind of gave me that sense of direction that, Okay,
I could take it to that next level and be
you know a guy and make plays at that.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Next level as well.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
I want to come back to that in just a second,
but do you want to pause here and just talk
about HBCU football and legacy and tradition and culture. Because
I've been around it, I've had a chance to call
some college games. I'm always just struck by how much
it means to those and hearing you recite that history,
it must have sunk in with you too.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Yeah, Like I grew up going to the Orange not
the Orange Blosser Classic, but the Classic between but Thrown
and fam You and just that environment, the people watching
the bands come out, and how people really connected with
the football players, how people really connected with the bands
(15:58):
and that culture. It was There's always something in the
back of my mind that I wanted to be a
part of. I just like, even when I was younger,
I was like, I'm gonna be on that field, you know,
And at that time, I really didn't know how big
or how much it really meant, but I just knew
and I always felt that energy every time I was
(16:19):
at the games, every time, you know, we went on campus,
even when my brother was in school, it was like,
you know, it just felt like home. It felt like
a family, It felt like, you know this why belong
And you know, it's always something that you really can't
put into words. It's just that experience and you know,
(16:39):
that vibe that you get from those around you that
really makes.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
You feel like you know you belong in that environment.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
And so in that way, you've already realized the dream
by performing at that level on being a part of that.
But by your senior year twenty two year, over a
thousand yards, eleven touchdowns, HBCU, All American, All SWACK. At
what point, if at any point, are you thinking there
might be a future be honest, for god, that didn't
have any offers out of high school, or I might
play professional football.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
It was, honestly my freshman year towards the end of
that season where I stacked up a couple of games,
I had like ninety eight yards, then I had one
hundred and eight yards. Then the last game I had
one hundred and thirty six, and I was like, yeah,
I could, I could do this. And so going into
that sophomore season where I ended with a thousand yard season.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I remember before that season, I was.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
In my dawn room with one of my roommates, and
I told him, I was like, I'm about to take it.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
To another level, and he kind of let that me.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
He was like smiling, you know, like, ah, like you might,
but I don't really know if you're gonna do it
for real. And I was telling him like, I'm really
about to take it to another level, and I'm you know,
I'm about to make it from FAMU. I want to
show people that you know, you can make it to
the NFL from fam You.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Your remember from six seven, eight years ago, you might
rival Sean McVay. Yeah, of your personal staff. I wonder
if you remember what you ran in the forty back
of your your pro day auditions four three, so that's
like top ten combine times. You're not doing it Indianapolis. Yeah,
tell me about the story where you forgot your gloves.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
So I was I was thinking they was gonna have gloves,
they was gonna have all of that for.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Us, So I honestly just left them at home.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I'm like, they're gonna give us gloves, so I really
won't need them. And when we get there, I'm looking around,
I'm like, they ain't got no gloves for us. So
at first, you know, I'm asking. I'm asking guys like,
do they have an extra pair of gloves? Nobody had
an extra pair of gloves, And then you know, I
just was kind of like, you know what, I'm overreacting
(18:50):
at this point. I spent my whole senior year practicing
with our gloves, So it was just like, you know,
I've been doing this since the begain that this season,
so you know.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
What other way to end the senior season with doing
it how you started?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I mean, you shook that off better than I would.
That sounds like nightmare fuel. You finally get the chance
to audition for all these NFL scouts and you forget
the things that you wear in your hands to catch
the football.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, come on, man, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
And then I'm just like, you know, I'm comfortable because
you know, this is what I've been doing all the
way up until this point, so you know I trust them.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
That's not why you weren't drafted, but we can chalk
it up to that maybe if you had had the
gloves that you wanted, that would that could have been.
But it brings you here. You signed with the Rams
as a college free agent. You spend that season on
the practice squad, waved again in August to twenty four.
You start that season on the practice squad. What is
life like on the squad for you? Do you consider
(19:49):
it a grind, a trial, a privilege?
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Like?
Speaker 2 (19:52):
What did it feel like for more than a season
to be on that level? Probably ality above.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
It's a grind, it's a trap, but it's also or
blessing because I'm in a position that many people want
to be in. You know, many people don't get the
opportunity to even be on the practice squad or to
even be in the NFL building. So you know, that
was never like to go to be on the practice squad.
(20:17):
It was always to be one of the best on
the field. So it was that grind knowing that I
can't settle, I can't become comfortable because it's a higher
place that I want to reach. So it was just
using each and every day to get better, to get
better until my opportunity came to where I could showcase.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
That I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
You're close, but you're not all the way there. Like
to be able to tell your kids or your grandkids
someday that you played in the league, Right, you gotta
wait for that promotion, right and just about a year
ago it came right. Well, remember about that first day
against the Niners.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I'm gonna be honest, I was a little nervous. I
was nervous because it was the dream was finally coming true.
And then it was like you watch it all a turn,
but it's different being in it, and you know, just
having that opportunity. I knew that I worked all the
way up until that point. I knew that I was
(21:17):
doing everything I could to be prepared. So when that
moment came, I knew I was ready and.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
I'm the can for It was a thirty eight yard
return to midfield that led to the game winning Cardifield goal,
and you get a game ball from the head coach
in the locker room.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
You got that somewhere special.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I still got it. It's put up. It's put up
at my mom house. She got it, like sitting on
this counter that she put all of my trophies and
my jerseys, stuff like that. She got a hole set
up in the house. So it's still like that.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
What level of validation was that to go back to
where you were at the end of your prep career
or where you were at FAM, you believing that could
be possible, and your first touch in the league is
worthy of a game winner and a game ball.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
It was.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
It was everything though, because you know, I got a
chance to show that I belong And for me, it
was like I was just waiting on that moment to
have that opportunity to show that I could play at
this level. So you know, I remember before that player
I always tell people. I told one of my teammates,
(22:23):
he kicked it to me, I'm about to win the game.
So it was just like knowing that I was ready
and knowing that, you know, I could play at this
level and do you know, do.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Well at this level? Give me chills? Man?
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Well told, Let's relive a couple other milestone moments. And
I don't often talk preseason football with people in your seat,
but the thirty nine yard dropping the bucket from Stetson
against the Cowboys this summer. That was part of defending
off Covey and kind of keeping your role. And I
wonder what that meant to you to go out and
not just do it on teams, but to do it
just you know, I.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Always wanted to show that I could play receiver too,
and me andstat saying, man, we built that connection. Even
from the time when he first got here. He just
throwing me letting nuggets, just telling me like, yeah, you
could play in you know, we just communicating on certain
routes and understanding that you know, I'm gonna be where
I need to be. You know, I'm gonna put it
(23:24):
up for you. All I need you to do is
make a play. And I always tell him like, you know,
just give me a chance. I'm gonna make that play
for you, and you know that's what he did.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
I gotta think moments like that give you the trust
and confidence of your coaching staff to get the week
one ball from QB one a career long thirty nine
yard reception and a win.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
How about that one? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (23:43):
And it's crazy because we connected on that play back
in OTA's the same play, the same type of situation
on the sideline with the toe tap. So I just
feel like that trust came at that moment. And then
it was like a Thursday and after the game, Matthew
had told me this. He was like, I told I
(24:05):
told the quarterback coach this Bob going up the X
on Sunday, and you know, he said, the coach kind
of looked like, nah, you gonna throw the dag at
it touto. He was like, watch this Bob going up
the X on Sunday, and you know it, it happened
just like that because I was telling j Witt the
this MM. I was telling j Wit he gonna throw
(24:27):
me this pilo and like we both was saying it
in different rooms, in different areas, and on that Sunday
it kind of just came into fruition.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
I love that you call that out because OTAs you
know around here, we call it flag football, right, yeah,
just football and shorts and and T shirts, And that
I think undermines how important it is. Right whereas you're
earning reps and confidence and targets from a future Hall
of Fame quarterback because of a play you made out here.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
In the spring. Definitely, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Definitely what's it like to go to work in a
receiver room that at during your Rams career has included
Cooper Cup and now Pooking Theakua and DeVante Adams.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
Man, It's a blessing. I'm I'm I'm lucky. I'm blessed
because I'm I'm in a room with probably three of
the greatest receivers to ever lace it up in the
NFL and getting a chance to learn from them, but
then also being able to, like I said, have that
(25:26):
healthy competition where you see Davante go out there and
make a play, or you see Pooka or Coop go
out there and make a play.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
It's like, yeah, I gotta go make a play. I can't.
It can't be a drop off when not get into the.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Game, Like, I gotta rise to that occasion and rise
to the level that they play at. So when it's
my turn to get into the game, I gotta make
the same place that they.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Make in you're a yarbinator, Yeah, you mount up pre
game with the rest of them, don't you?
Speaker 3 (25:54):
How great is ere That's that's man, That's probably one
of the best faers before the game. Seeing that energy
that even coach Yards bring every day, but on Sunday
is the energy that he brings before the game where
we are kind of getting our names called out. You know,
you start feeling like that superhero that he's making you.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Out to me, So, x Man, that's your superhero character.
We're going with that?
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Yeah, that's it, right, Are you into the Marvel universe
or anything like that?
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I'm in the X Man.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Okay, but because of your name or just organically both?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Okay, both?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Do you have a favorite? I don't know anything about
this world, so coach me up if you want.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
I don't really know much. Okay. The one that I
watched multiple times was The Black Panthers. All right, but
it is x Man even though it's Xavier not x Xavier.
You have that right? Yeah? Okay, good. I'm always a
stickler for.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
I appreciate that because most people always say Xavier, and
you know, my mom around she gonna correct it, no Exavier,
So you know, I kind of picked up on that
where you know, when people say egg.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Zavy, I kind of just be like, it's just Zavy.
We already learned on this show.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
You can't mess with mom, can't get one passer, So
I'm not going to try and get that wrong either.
It seems like the natural next step, maybe the only
next step is the car about more role on offense. Yeah,
it seems like you believe in yourself as a wide
receiver more than just a special team's ace.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Do you think that's in your NFL future? Definitely? Definitely.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
You know how long it takes. That's out of my control,
but eventually that day gonna come.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
And then lastly, what do you like to do away
from the facility? What else is there besides football in
your life?
Speaker 2 (27:32):
At age twenty eight? Now, I'm a foodie man. I
like to eat.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
I like to eat, so I've been trying that a
lot of places around, but I'm definitely a big foodie
for sure.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Oh, I've been following you on social media. So you
got to Malley with the team, took advantage of Catalina
Island here in southern California. So I'm glad to see
you enjoying this opportunity on and off the field.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Definitely, man, Catalina, I love it though. I'm definitely going
back this house.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Very cool.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Wish you all the success here in twenty twenty five.
It's been a privilege getting to know you. Thank you
for sharing your story with the audience here on Ramsterfield.
Thank you, and we'll see you back at SOFI Stadium
for two home games in five days, the Colts and
the Niners.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Perfect
Hope your week is off to a great start everyone,
and welcome to a new edition of Rams Revealed. Looking
forward to seeing you at Sofi Stadium for back to
back home games against the Colts and the Niners in
a span of five days. Well, as we found out
the hard way in Philadelphia in Week three, wins and
losses often determined in the NFL by the kicking game,
and that's why we chose this week to sit down
with a special team's ace for your Los Angeles Rams Zagerstein.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Coming back from Philadelphia, How you feeling?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I feel good, a little disappointed, upset, but overall I
feel good. Body's healthy, so you know, it's just ready
to really get back to it.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I think we all feel that disappointment, especially for you,
as I wish you a happy belated birthday. I would
have loved to have had a three to zh starpy
part of your celebration.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
That would have that really would have been the best
part of a birthday celebration, getting that win.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
What's it like to play on your birthday?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Although I'm sure you're used to it as a lifelong
football player in the.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Fall, you know it's special because you know, I get
to do what I love, what I dreamed of since
I was four years old.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I get to do that on my birthday. So you know,
for me, it always been special.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
And each year I got a chance to play on
my birthday, it was always successful.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So I'll wishing you all the best in your twenty
ninth year. Week three of next season, I want to
get a dub.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
On your birthday. Yeah, we're gonna make.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Sure that happen, you know. Fortunately and unfortunately, I think
it's the perfect week to have these special teams ace
with us on the show because when you look back
at that loss to Philadelphia, that game was won and
lost in the kicking game. So tell us about the
third phase and the impact you think it had in
the outcome against the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I think that's, you know, one of the most important
phases of the game, honestly, just because that's the first
phase that takes the field each and every game.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
You gotta kick it off.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
So you know, a lot of times the games are
won and lost in the special team phase game, whether
people realize it or not, where you know, you make
those plays on that phase of the game, sometimes that's
the turning point to give you that momentum or just
sell a win when it's a close game like we
(02:13):
had last night.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Before we zoom in on your role as the punt returner,
which I think is how rams fans know you primarily.
What are some of the other kicking teams that you're
a part of.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I'm on the kickoff and then I'm also on the
punt phase as well.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
We've seen you get some tackles, not just a return man,
but that is kind of your claim to thing so
far in your NFL career. How does one become a
punt returner? Like where in your journey did that become
part of your arsenal?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Honestly, I used to do it when I was younger,
because you know, like they want to put one of
the best athletes back then for them to kick it.
So honestly, I did it when I was younger, and
then I never really did it much in college. So
my first real opportunities being an actual punt returner is
(02:59):
when I came to the Unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
We'll talk about one of those first moments a little
bit later on in this show, but it kind of
leads to my next question, which is is punt returning
something that you or people like you dream of and
really relish and look forward to. Or is it a
role that you play to earn your key on an
NFL roster?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Both honestly, both because you know, when I'm at punt return,
that's me being.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
In my moment, being in my element, and.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
You know I'm able to just be free and be
back then kind of play the game how I kind
of want to play it, So honestly, you know, yeah,
it's to keep the roster spot, But for me, it
is just an opportunity to be free and showcase my abilities.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
What are some of the keys to doing it at
an elite level?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Just just trusting, trusting the guys blocking in front of you,
trusting those ten guys to you know, do their job.
And because I'm looking up and I can't really see
those guys coming, So it's really just having my trusting
those ten guys in front of me, me and allowing
them to create lanes for me to do what I
(04:05):
do best.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
You're not kidding, I mean I'm getting uncomfortable just hearing
you describe it. To be basically all alone in the
seventy thousand seat stadium and having two and forty pounds,
linebackers bearing down on you.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Well, you gotta catch that football. Yeah, that's Daunte. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
And so for me, it's just like being confident as well,
knowing the work that I put in throughout the week,
and then you know, having that connection with those guys
in front of me.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
One other thing, kick return is a lot different than
punt return. I get it, But can you empathize with
those Eagles returners from Week three who are just having
Nrty's knuckleball.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
You know, we've been we've been practicing that, and we've
been working on that since back in OTA's and we
we knew that was gonna that was gonna be that
was gonna be a key to how successful we be
in the kicking game. So you know, it's been it's
been working so far, and we definitely plan to keep
that going throughout the rest.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Of this season.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
One of the other things I liked came from pregame.
I just want to take already behind the scenes a
little bit. I was walking the field and I saw
you reconnecting with Britain Covey.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, and I love that.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Because it made me think, Oh, I wonder how Xavier
felt having the Rams bring in a challenger, so to
speak to your role on this team, But.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
It seemed like you bonded. Yeah, tell me about that
relationship and how it formed in just one summer, just
like healthy competition.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
We know, we know why he was here, and we
both knew, you know, we was competing for that spot,
but it didn't.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Affect the.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Relationship that we could build throughout the process of competing,
like just healthy competition, knowing that we both looking to
have a spot on this roster. So you know, we
both was giving each other tips and we both was
just kind of connecting on the wide receiver and also
on the print return and as well. So it was
(05:58):
basically just you know, embracing that competition and getting the
best out of each other.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You know there was us, yeah speak for themselves. Yeah,
you earned it, you really did.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
And it makes me think there's only like thirty forty
to fifty people in your seats in the entire world
that know what that's like to compete for that role
in that spot. For those who don't know, Britain's back
on the practice squad with the Eagles. He's been one
of the greats at that spot for a couple of years.
Your next opponent is interesting Indianapolis. Did you know the
Colts did not punt on their first twenty.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Drives this season? I haven't.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
They're the first team in the Super Bowl era not
to punt in the first two games of the season.
So all that to say, when you go to work
this week, there's not gonna be a lot of film
right on the Colt punting seams. You're gonna have to
dig deep and do your homework.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Definitely got to go probably to prior seasons or if
that punt it wasn't there, then you know wherever he
was last year to kind of get.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Those three punts in three games, the fewest for an
NFL team since nineteen forty. But anyways, that's not why
we're here to learn more about you and your personal journey.
Tell us about Haynes City, Florida, where you grew up.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Just a small town in Polk County, Florida.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
You know, it's not much.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
There, and you know football is kind of that outlet
for most or basketball or some type of sport. So
you know, just a small town where everybody kind of
knows everybody, and you know, between two metro areas though
right right between Orlando between Tampa, maybe like forty five
(07:32):
from Tampa, maybe like thirty from Orlando.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And Drew and James is from that area. Yes, me
and him, like we grew up together, honestly.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
His dad was my coach at one point of time,
and he always played with my older brother. He was
always one to two years older than me, So him
and my brother they always played together. But we grew
up since we was young playing for the same little
league team and then getting a chance to play with each.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Other in house. And in those days, you were running back, Yes,
what kind of running back? Were you? Scat vat something
like a Dalving Cook or something like that. You know,
had the receiving ability all the way through.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yeah, but I never really played receiver honestly until I
got the FAM you. So I knew I could catch,
you know, but I just wanted to bottle in my hands.
So that's why I always wanted to play running back.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It wasn't a straight line of fam you though, wasn't. Nah,
no offers coming out of high school?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Nah, what do you to? You know?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
I honestly don't know, honestly, if I'm being quite honestly, like,
I really don't know. Because I feel like I was
producing and it could have been circumstances.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
It could have been situations.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
That was, you know, out of my control, but you
know that's something that I couldn't control at that time.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
So what were some of the lengths that you went
to to get the attention of coaches.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Honestly, I emailed a lot of coaches. I went on Twitter,
I was DM and a lot of coaches, just going
through every team and I would find the running back
coach to receive a coach and I would and then
the head coach and I would just type this same
email up each and every time, just hoping to get
a response.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
You know, I never got a response, but it's all.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Good, serious like coach's first name, coaches second name at
college dot edu and hoping that you got something.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, and I responsors never unbelievable. So then what you
just move on with life? That that was the plan,
Honestly I was. I started working at Amazon, and at
that time I was just like, yeah, I'm kind of
done with football. Maybe that's not what's in store for me.
So I started working at Amazon, working with a lot
(09:45):
of guys around the neighborhood. So it was like, you know,
that's what everybody was doing. So it's like, I'm gonna
just do this, and yeah, I was kind of just like, yeah,
I'm done with football. I'm not going to college. It
was people telling me to go to college, but in
my head, I was like, yeah, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
When you say done, is that heartbreaking? Done?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Like I can't believe this didn't work out? Or is
that like I've played football my whole life. I'm gonna
get onto something Yeah, moving on to something else.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Honestly, I was I was okay, you know, like deep
down I was good. I'm like, I'm done, you know,
I didn't want to play.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
It reminds me a little bit of Kobe Durant and
his day's working at FedEx. I't know if that story
has come across your redar, but there's a lot of
parallels there.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, we talked about it.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
What did you learn from that period of time, Like
before we get to FAMI, you that what year or
so you kind of live in the real life. What
did you learn about yourself and the way the world
works and anything that benefited you to this day.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
I knew that ain't what I wanted to do for
the rest of my life. So it was it just
taught me a lot that you gotta be strong and
you gotta be ready for whatever come within that life,
regardless of you know, what you gotta do. And you know,
at that time, I was having to help my mom,
(11:02):
but I really couldn't help her much because I'm only
making ten or eleven an hour and I'm only working four
hours a day, so you know, it wasn't much that
I could do. But it kind of it kind of
opened my eyes to reality that you know, it really
ain't a game, and you know, you got to you
(11:24):
gotta make a way or you gonna driven.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
How did she help you reach the next step of
your journey?
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Just constantly pushing me to, you know, do something, constantly
pushing me to go to college. And it was like
a community college where I'm from. It's called Post State College.
She used to always, you know, tell me to go there,
and I would I ain't gonna lie. I used to
go there and she would like be she would like, say,
register for classes. So I used to go there and
(11:53):
act like I was trying to register for classes, but
I really wasn't trying to.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
So I would just go there.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
I bring up pap us back that just make it
look like I'm trying to get into the school, But
I really wasn't trying to get into school.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
So she just constantly started.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Reaching out to people at FAMU that she knew in
the admission office, and then they ended up sending me
an email in return saying I didn't get accepted, but
you know, if I come and I passed the summer classes,
I could go through this summer Bridge program. I passed
the summer classes, I'd be able to get admitted into school.
(12:31):
Just thinking you can juke safeties in the NFL. You
can't juke mom. Yeah, yeah, Mom, she knew what she
was doing, and she was steadfast about making sure I
was gonna get.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Into school somewhere.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So a lot of college athletes walk ons or what
we call like preferred walk ons.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah, there are people that coaches know about.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Hey, we'd love to have you on the team and
only have this many dollars and resources and scholarships, but
come get into school.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
We got a spot for you. Right.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
That wasn't That wasn't how you became a family walk on.
You had to go through summer school to qualify to
try out on day one.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah, and you did.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Yeah, you did have a little bit of an ace
in the hole though, which is your older brother tell
us about him?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Man, he just liked me.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
But you know, growing up, he always beat me and everything.
So when people always try to ask, you know, who
was better, I always say it was him, because you know,
I could never beat him or nothing. But just honestly,
I'm learning the punt return game from him because that's what.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
He did in college. He did a lot of punt returns.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
So you know, I go back and try to watch
his highlights, see some of the things that he was doing,
you know, and I just try to bring it into
my game.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
So this is Kareem right.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Yeah, and he's a senior for the rattlers as you're
trying to make your way.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
As a freshman.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah, that was his senior year. So is he lobbying
the coaches? Is he putting in a good word for you?
He definitely was in the air, Like, give him a
chance and he gonna show y'all why he desired to
beat hisself.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
All right.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
So, giving that brief backstory that you just walked us through,
what does it mean to get placed on scholarship? Then
just a year or two after you're earning ten eleven.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Dollars an hour. Yeah, it meant.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
It meant the word to me because I knew that
I earned it. I knew that the way that I
was working, I deserved it. So you know, it meant
a lot, And it was just that first step to
showing me that as long as I continue working everything,
that's a payoff for me.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
By twenty nineteen, you have this game against Delaware State.
I'm sure you remember it based on your smile in
the school record four touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Yeah, I mean it's one thing.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
To make a team, another be placed on scholarship, but
to be a guy or the guy? What are you
thinking at that point of your college career.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
I got a chance to do something special.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
And just knowing the guys who came before me at
Famue talking about guys like jaque Ninelli came in Lamb,
Kevin Elliott, a guy who Jaquari Nanley broke off.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Jerry Rice records. So it's just like.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Knowing that I did something that he wasn't able to do.
It kind of gave me that sense of direction that, Okay,
I could take it to that next level and be
you know a guy and make plays at that.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Next level as well.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
I want to come back to that in just a second,
but do you want to pause here and just talk
about HBCU football and legacy and tradition and culture. Because
I've been around it, I've had a chance to call
some college games. I'm always just struck by how much
it means to those and hearing you recite that history,
it must have sunk in with you too.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Yeah, Like I grew up going to the Orange not
the Orange Blosser Classic, but the Classic between but Thrown
and fam You and just that environment, the people watching
the bands come out, and how people really connected with
the football players, how people really connected with the bands
(15:58):
and that culture. It was There's always something in the
back of my mind that I wanted to be a
part of. I just like, even when I was younger,
I was like, I'm gonna be on that field, you know,
And at that time, I really didn't know how big
or how much it really meant, but I just knew
and I always felt that energy every time I was
(16:19):
at the games, every time, you know, we went on campus,
even when my brother was in school, it was like,
you know, it just felt like home. It felt like
a family, It felt like, you know this why belong
And you know, it's always something that you really can't
put into words. It's just that experience and you know,
(16:39):
that vibe that you get from those around you that
really makes.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
You feel like you know you belong in that environment.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
And so in that way, you've already realized the dream
by performing at that level on being a part of that.
But by your senior year twenty two year, over a
thousand yards, eleven touchdowns, HBCU, All American, All SWACK. At
what point, if at any point, are you thinking there
might be a future be honest, for god, that didn't
have any offers out of high school, or I might
play professional football.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
It was, honestly my freshman year towards the end of
that season where I stacked up a couple of games,
I had like ninety eight yards, then I had one
hundred and eight yards. Then the last game I had
one hundred and thirty six, and I was like, yeah,
I could, I could do this. And so going into
that sophomore season where I ended with a thousand yard season.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I remember before that season, I was.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
In my dawn room with one of my roommates, and
I told him, I was like, I'm about to take it.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
To another level, and he kind of let that me.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
He was like smiling, you know, like, ah, like you might,
but I don't really know if you're gonna do it
for real. And I was telling him like, I'm really
about to take it to another level, and I'm you know,
I'm about to make it from FAMU. I want to
show people that you know, you can make it to
the NFL from fam You.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Your remember from six seven, eight years ago, you might
rival Sean McVay. Yeah, of your personal staff. I wonder
if you remember what you ran in the forty back
of your your pro day auditions four three, so that's
like top ten combine times. You're not doing it Indianapolis. Yeah,
tell me about the story where you forgot your gloves.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
So I was I was thinking they was gonna have gloves,
they was gonna have all of that for.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Us, So I honestly just left them at home.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I'm like, they're gonna give us gloves, so I really
won't need them. And when we get there, I'm looking around,
I'm like, they ain't got no gloves for us. So
at first, you know, I'm asking. I'm asking guys like,
do they have an extra pair of gloves? Nobody had
an extra pair of gloves, And then you know, I
just was kind of like, you know what, I'm overreacting
(18:50):
at this point. I spent my whole senior year practicing
with our gloves, So it was just like, you know,
I've been doing this since the begain that this season,
so you know.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
What other way to end the senior season with doing
it how you started?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I mean, you shook that off better than I would.
That sounds like nightmare fuel. You finally get the chance
to audition for all these NFL scouts and you forget
the things that you wear in your hands to catch
the football.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, come on, man, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
And then I'm just like, you know, I'm comfortable because
you know, this is what I've been doing all the
way up until this point, so you know I trust them.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
That's not why you weren't drafted, but we can chalk
it up to that maybe if you had had the
gloves that you wanted, that would that could have been.
But it brings you here. You signed with the Rams
as a college free agent. You spend that season on
the practice squad, waved again in August to twenty four.
You start that season on the practice squad. What is
life like on the squad for you? Do you consider
(19:49):
it a grind, a trial, a privilege?
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Like?
Speaker 2 (19:52):
What did it feel like for more than a season
to be on that level? Probably ality above.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
It's a grind, it's a trap, but it's also or
blessing because I'm in a position that many people want
to be in. You know, many people don't get the
opportunity to even be on the practice squad or to
even be in the NFL building. So you know, that
was never like to go to be on the practice squad.
(20:17):
It was always to be one of the best on
the field. So it was that grind knowing that I
can't settle, I can't become comfortable because it's a higher
place that I want to reach. So it was just
using each and every day to get better, to get
better until my opportunity came to where I could showcase.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
That I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
You're close, but you're not all the way there. Like
to be able to tell your kids or your grandkids
someday that you played in the league, Right, you gotta
wait for that promotion, right and just about a year
ago it came right. Well, remember about that first day
against the Niners.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I'm gonna be honest, I was a little nervous. I
was nervous because it was the dream was finally coming true.
And then it was like you watch it all a turn,
but it's different being in it, and you know, just
having that opportunity. I knew that I worked all the
way up until that point. I knew that I was
(21:17):
doing everything I could to be prepared. So when that
moment came, I knew I was ready and.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
I'm the can for It was a thirty eight yard
return to midfield that led to the game winning Cardifield goal,
and you get a game ball from the head coach
in the locker room.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
You got that somewhere special.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I still got it. It's put up. It's put up
at my mom house. She got it, like sitting on
this counter that she put all of my trophies and
my jerseys, stuff like that. She got a hole set
up in the house. So it's still like that.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
What level of validation was that to go back to
where you were at the end of your prep career
or where you were at FAM, you believing that could
be possible, and your first touch in the league is
worthy of a game winner and a game ball.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
It was.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
It was everything though, because you know, I got a
chance to show that I belong And for me, it
was like I was just waiting on that moment to
have that opportunity to show that I could play at
this level. So you know, I remember before that player
I always tell people. I told one of my teammates,
(22:23):
he kicked it to me, I'm about to win the game.
So it was just like knowing that I was ready
and knowing that, you know, I could play at this
level and do you know, do.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Well at this level? Give me chills? Man?
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Well told, Let's relive a couple other milestone moments. And
I don't often talk preseason football with people in your seat,
but the thirty nine yard dropping the bucket from Stetson
against the Cowboys this summer. That was part of defending
off Covey and kind of keeping your role. And I
wonder what that meant to you to go out and
not just do it on teams, but to do it
just you know, I.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Always wanted to show that I could play receiver too,
and me andstat saying, man, we built that connection. Even
from the time when he first got here. He just
throwing me letting nuggets, just telling me like, yeah, you
could play in you know, we just communicating on certain
routes and understanding that you know, I'm gonna be where
I need to be. You know, I'm gonna put it
(23:24):
up for you. All I need you to do is
make a play. And I always tell him like, you know,
just give me a chance. I'm gonna make that play
for you, and you know that's what he did.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
I gotta think moments like that give you the trust
and confidence of your coaching staff to get the week
one ball from QB one a career long thirty nine
yard reception and a win.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
How about that one? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (23:43):
And it's crazy because we connected on that play back
in OTA's the same play, the same type of situation
on the sideline with the toe tap. So I just
feel like that trust came at that moment. And then
it was like a Thursday and after the game, Matthew
had told me this. He was like, I told I
(24:05):
told the quarterback coach this Bob going up the X
on Sunday, and you know, he said, the coach kind
of looked like, nah, you gonna throw the dag at
it touto. He was like, watch this Bob going up
the X on Sunday, and you know it, it happened
just like that because I was telling j Witt the
this MM. I was telling j Wit he gonna throw
(24:27):
me this pilo and like we both was saying it
in different rooms, in different areas, and on that Sunday
it kind of just came into fruition.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
I love that you call that out because OTAs you
know around here, we call it flag football, right, yeah,
just football and shorts and and T shirts, And that
I think undermines how important it is. Right whereas you're
earning reps and confidence and targets from a future Hall
of Fame quarterback because of a play you made out here.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
In the spring. Definitely, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Definitely what's it like to go to work in a
receiver room that at during your Rams career has included
Cooper Cup and now Pooking Theakua and DeVante Adams.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
Man, It's a blessing. I'm I'm I'm lucky. I'm blessed
because I'm I'm in a room with probably three of
the greatest receivers to ever lace it up in the
NFL and getting a chance to learn from them, but
then also being able to, like I said, have that
(25:26):
healthy competition where you see Davante go out there and
make a play, or you see Pooka or Coop go
out there and make a play.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
It's like, yeah, I gotta go make a play. I can't.
It can't be a drop off when not get into the.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Game, Like, I gotta rise to that occasion and rise
to the level that they play at. So when it's
my turn to get into the game, I gotta make
the same place that they.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Make in you're a yarbinator, Yeah, you mount up pre
game with the rest of them, don't you?
Speaker 3 (25:54):
How great is ere That's that's man, That's probably one
of the best faers before the game. Seeing that energy
that even coach Yards bring every day, but on Sunday
is the energy that he brings before the game where
we are kind of getting our names called out. You know,
you start feeling like that superhero that he's making you.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Out to me, So, x Man, that's your superhero character.
We're going with that?
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Yeah, that's it, right, Are you into the Marvel universe
or anything like that?
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I'm in the X Man.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Okay, but because of your name or just organically both?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Okay, both?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Do you have a favorite? I don't know anything about
this world, so coach me up if you want.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
I don't really know much. Okay. The one that I
watched multiple times was The Black Panthers. All right, but
it is x Man even though it's Xavier not x Xavier.
You have that right? Yeah? Okay, good. I'm always a
stickler for.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
I appreciate that because most people always say Xavier, and
you know, my mom around she gonna correct it, no Exavier,
So you know, I kind of picked up on that
where you know, when people say egg.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Zavy, I kind of just be like, it's just Zavy.
We already learned on this show.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
You can't mess with mom, can't get one passer, So
I'm not going to try and get that wrong either.
It seems like the natural next step, maybe the only
next step is the car about more role on offense. Yeah,
it seems like you believe in yourself as a wide
receiver more than just a special team's ace.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Do you think that's in your NFL future? Definitely? Definitely.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
You know how long it takes. That's out of my control,
but eventually that day gonna come.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
And then lastly, what do you like to do away
from the facility? What else is there besides football in
your life?
Speaker 2 (27:32):
At age twenty eight? Now, I'm a foodie man. I
like to eat.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
I like to eat, so I've been trying that a
lot of places around, but I'm definitely a big foodie
for sure.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Oh, I've been following you on social media. So you
got to Malley with the team, took advantage of Catalina
Island here in southern California. So I'm glad to see
you enjoying this opportunity on and off the field.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Definitely, man, Catalina, I love it though. I'm definitely going
back this house.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Very cool.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Wish you all the success here in twenty twenty five.
It's been a privilege getting to know you. Thank you
for sharing your story with the audience here on Ramsterfield.
Thank you, and we'll see you back at SOFI Stadium
for two home games in five days, the Colts and
the Niners.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Perfect
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