Alongside his family and in front of coaches and teammates, Lexington Christian (Lexington, KY) rising senior running back Xavier Brown announced Thursday afternoon that he will attend the University of Virginia. The versatile 5’11”, 175-pound prospect with a 3.7 GPA chose the Hoos over fellow Power 5 schools Boston College, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as offers from Air Force, Dartmouth, Harvard, Howard, Princeton, Penn and Yale.
Virginia football’s class of 2022 now includes 11 commitments, six of whom are being recruited to play offense. Brown, who plays running back, wide receiver and defensive back for the Eagles, is being recruited by the Hoos as a running back but could fit the H-Back role Olamide Zaccheaus and Billy Kemp IV have played for UVA in the Bronco Mendenhall era.
The Louisville Courier Journal placed Brown on its All-State Third Team as a wide receiver, while the Associated Press named the standout student athlete an All-State Honorable Mention running back. Rivals rates Brown as a 3-star all-purpose running back prospect and the No. 9 rising senior in Kentucky. 247Sports also has Brown on the 3-star level and ranks him as the No. 84 running back in the nation in his class and the No. 11 overall rising senior in Kentucky.
During today’s press conference, Lexington Christian head varsity football coach Doug Charles praised Brown as a person who “exemplifies the heart of a champion.” Brown performed like a champion in the 2020 Kentucky Class 2A state championship game, rushing for 139 yards and two touchdowns (52, 3) and hauling in four catches for 62 yards in a 24-23 overtime loss to Beechwood. The future Hoo finished his junior campaign with 877 yards receiving, 449 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns (nine receiving, eight rushing).
Virginia Football’s Class Of 2022
– Will Bettridge, Placekicker, 5’11”, 165 pounds, Gulliver Prep (Miami, FL)
Rivals ranking: NR
247Sports ranking: 2-star; No. 3 kicker in the class of 2022; No 247 prospect in Florida in the class of 2022
Other rankings: 5-star, No. 1 underclass placekicker by Kornblue Kicking; 5-star, No. 7 class of 2022 kicker per Kohl’s Kicking
– Stevie Bracey, Linebacker, 6’1”, 215 pounds, The Lovett School (Atlanta, GA)
Rivals ranking: 3-star
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 78 linebacker; No. 64 prospect in Georgia
– Xavier Brown, Running Back/Athlete, 5’11”, 175 pounds, Lexington Christian (Lexington, KY)
Rivals ranking: 3-star all-purpose running back; No. 9 Kentucky
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 84 running back; No. 11 Kentucky
– Joe Brown, Offensive Lineman, 6’3”, 285 pounds, Lone Peak (American Fork, UT)
Rivals ranking: NR
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 36 interior offensive lineman; No. 16 Utah
– Karson Gay, Tight End, 6’6”, 225 pounds, Boyd Buchanan (Chattanooga, TN)
Rivals ranking: 3-star; No. 32 Tennessee
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 33 tight end; No. 17 Tennessee
– Will Hardy, Defensive Back, 6’2”, 185 pounds, Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, GA)
Rivals ranking: 3-star; No. 97 Georgia
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 86 athlete; No. 77 Georgia
– Anthony Holmes Jr., Defensive Lineman, 6’2”, 275 pounds, Westfield (Houston, TX)
Rivals ranking: 3-star
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 85 defensive lineman; No. 73 Texas
– Davis Lane, Quarterback, 6’2”, 195 pounds, Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg, VA)
Rivals ranking: 3-star
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 57 quarterback; No. 24 Virginia
– Trey McDonald, Linebacker, 6’4”, 225 pounds, Baylor (Chattanooga, TN)
Rivals ranking: 3-star; No. 38 Tennessee
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 121 linebacker; No. 40 Tennessee
– Brody Meadows, Offensive Lineman, 6’7”, 315 pounds, Graham (Bluefield, VA)
Rivals ranking: 4-star; No. 35 offensive tackle; No. 12 Virginia
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 38 offensive tackle; No. 15 Virginia
– Dakota Twitty, Wide Receiver, 6’5”, 215 pounds, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (Mooresboro, N.C.)
Rivals ranking: 3-star; No. 75 wide receiver; No. 14 North Carolina
247Sports ranking: 4-star; No. 44 wide receiver; No. 10 North Carolina
