The college football season in Texas starts a week earlier than normal with a Week 0 matchup between North Texas and UTEP. To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas every day until Aug. 27. The list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best, though talent plays a major factor in most important.

No. 13: Xavier Gipson, SFA senior wide receiver 

The History

Gipson was a four-year letterwinner at Woodrow Wilson High School who played primarily at cornerback and on special teams during his prep career. He was a three-star recruit and a one-time SMU commit. Gipson flipped to wide receiver once he was at SFA, and he didn’t require much time to adjust to the position. He started in 12 games for the ‘Jacks as a true freshman in 2019, finishing the year with 52 catches for 934 yards, and seven touchdowns. He also returned kicks for SFA. 

Gipson led the team in nearly every receiving category during the 2020 pandemic season. He ended the shortened season with 52 catches for 841 yards and nine scores. He accounted for more than half of the team’s total receiving touchdowns and averaged more than 84 yards receiving per game. He also returned a punt for a touchdown. 

Gipson broke out even more as a sophomore in 2021, helping the ‘Jacks reach the postseason for the first time in seven years. He was seventh in the Walter Payton Award voting, which is the Heisman Trophy for FCS football. 

The Skillset 

The 5-9, 170-pound Gipson is a matchup nightmare for FCS opponents. His quickness in tight spaces makes him the ideal slot receiver. His speed and jumping ability mean he can also be effective on the outside. Teams know that Gipson is the No. 1 target in the passing game for SFA and still can’t stop him. He’s led the team in nearly every receiving category since arriving on campus in 2019 and will go down as one of the best offensive weapons in program history. He’s an elite route runner who is hard to tackle after the catch. His elusiveness is on display after the catch and as a return specialist. He also rarely drops a pass, and his catch radius is bigger than his frame suggests. 

The Impact

The numbers almost don’t look real for Gipson. He led the team with 74 catches (50 more than any other player on the roster), 1,367 yards (almost a 1,000 more yards than the next best receiver on the roster), and 14 touchdown catches (11 more than anyone else on the roster) in 2021. He’s a preseason favorite to win the Walter Payton Award and is one of the best wide receivers in the state regardless of classification. Few players can match his consistent production, even in the face of double coverage. Gipson was the only FCS player to earn a spot on the All-Texas team in the 2022 summer magazine. 

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