After being important players in their universities, the rookies must once again earn their places in the pros. Who are they and what hopes do they inspire? Today, the supersonic receiver Xavier Worthy.
Xavier Worthy
Born April 27, 2003 in Fresno, California
1m79 for 75 kilos
Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs
Competitor at heart
The NFL Combine workshops allow NFL candidates to show off their athletic skills. The most televised exercise is a 40-yard dash. Each of the 321 candidates has the opportunity to run two races. On his first try, Xavier Worthy clocks a sensational time of 4.25 seconds!
Very few players attempt a second time when the first one puts them under four and a half seconds. Why risk doing worse? When this performance earns them important points with the evaluators.
All observers were therefore surprised, and excited, to see him line up again on the starting line. Xavier Worthy not only intended to show that his time was not a fluke, but he also wanted to take the record for the exercise.
The display of his second time in 4.22 seconds on the giant screen of the stadium, provoked a reaction from the crowd present, like that attending the final of a 100m at the Olympic Games. This time equaled the performance of John Ross in 2017! Mad with joy, Xavier Worthy then continued to run off the track like Forrest Gump.
Electronically revised and refined, his time was then reduced to 4.21 seconds. Thus propelling him as the new record holder. His competitive spirit was therefore rewarded: this attitude is also constant with him.
Reserved but determined
Since his first steps in this sport, Xavier Worthy has always been the smallest and most frail on the field. If some in this case try to compensate for a lack of size by an extroverted behavior, his mother and his coaches speak of a teenager who lets little of his emotions show.
Small, skinny and shy: this physical description does not, however, define the character of a young man who knows what he wants.
Initially verbally committed to the University of Michigan, Xavier Worthy finally chose the University of Texas. During the high school recruiting process, he hesitated between Michigan and Alabama. The latter were attractive to him because of the presence of an offensive coordinator with whom he got along well. Steve Sarkisian immediately obtained the position of head coach at Texas, Xavier Worthy chose to follow him there.
Playing for the University of Texas is as exhilarating as it is stiflingly pressured. In a state where football is a religion, wearing the “crimson orange” jersey is the ultimate accomplishment! In his first season, Xavier Worthy burst onto the scene with 981 yards and 12 touchdowns. Logically, he was named the best prospect (freshman) of the Big 12 Conference. In three seasons on campus, Longhornshe leaves his mark, him the little one, the puny one. The determined one!
The signature dish
The majority of the Chiefs' aerial throws are in the short to intermediate zone (between 5 and 15 yards). There, Patrick Mahomes can rely on the expertise of tight end Travis Kelce. However, to change the fate of a game, you also have to know how to gain a lot of ground at once.
It was Kansas City's formidable specialty when Tyreek Hill was showing off his speed. When he left for Miami in 2022, the Chiefs tried to replicate the recipe with Mecole Hardman and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But the end result had lost its flavor. No better in 2023 despite the addition of Rashee Rice and the progression of Justin Watson.
To get his “signature dish” back, chef Patrick Mahomes ordered an ingredient from his supplier to spice up his game again. It was to keep his stars in the NFL guide that manager Brett Veach selected Xavier Worthy.
But if Patrick Mahomes is a famous chef, the dish still has to reach the customers!
In 2023, no NFL team has been penalized more than the Chiefs in terms of loose balls. While Xavier Worthy can deliver the command quickly, his main flaw in college was letting the ball slip away too often!
His first steps during training camps unfortunately confirmed this trend: it even went viral on networks followed by Chiefs fans. Because coaches and fans alike never forget a dropped ball, Xavier Worthy will have to correct this flaw to succeed in the NFL.
Overcoming John Ross Syndrome
In 2016, receiver John Ross had a great season with the University of Washington: 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns! A few months later, he broke the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record in 4.22 seconds. His college production combined with supersonic speed made him a logical choice in the top 10 of the 2017 draft. But he didn't exceed 1,000 yards in five NFL seasons!
This precedent with a player who resembles him in terms of size and speed, made the selection of Xavier Worthy in the first round vilified by many. Manager Brett Veach therefore had to defend his choice in a press conference.
“Yes, he runs very fast. But we were also impressed by his intelligence during our interviews with him. I have no doubt that we will be able to use him in various ways.”
Attacking the depth or gaining yards after a short throw, Xavier Worthy should also be used to return punts and faceoffs. Will he be labeled a “gadget player” or will he manage to become a receiver who counts?
For his first NFL game, he made his mark by scoring two touchdowns in the Chiefs' victory over the Ravens!
