I watched Xavier Gipson play last night (my job covering HS football for the DMN finally matched up with an SMU commit's game!). His team, Woodrow Wilson, took on a bad Sunset team and Gipson only played one half. I was taking offensive stats, so I wasn't always able to keep an eye on him, but I did take some notes on the plays I saw.
Sunset ran the triple option, so he didn't have many opportunities to fall into pass coverage. Still, he recorded an interception and returned it 15 yards to set up a Wilson touchdown. I wasn't as impressed with him in the run game. While he does have good instincts, he has trouble taking down bigger running backs. That's probably because he's small (he's listed at 5-foot-10 but I'd say he's closer to 5-foot-8 or 9, he was smaller than me) and 155 pounds. He's going to need to bulk up to at least 175 or 180, which will probably mean he needs to redshirt a year.
He did have a carry which he took for 20 yards and probably would have gone farther had his left foot not stepped out of bounds. He also had a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown. He's a versatile player who's still a bit raw.
In terms of SMU players, I'd compare him to McQueen, but I feel like that's probably his ceiling.
I talked to him after the game (there will be a piece coming tomorrow). He said he's still 100 percent committed to SMU and will be at the game tonight.
Sunset ran the triple option, so he didn't have many opportunities to fall into pass coverage. Still, he recorded an interception and returned it 15 yards to set up a Wilson touchdown. I wasn't as impressed with him in the run game. While he does have good instincts, he has trouble taking down bigger running backs. That's probably because he's small (he's listed at 5-foot-10 but I'd say he's closer to 5-foot-8 or 9, he was smaller than me) and 155 pounds. He's going to need to bulk up to at least 175 or 180, which will probably mean he needs to redshirt a year.
He did have a carry which he took for 20 yards and probably would have gone farther had his left foot not stepped out of bounds. He also had a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown. He's a versatile player who's still a bit raw.
In terms of SMU players, I'd compare him to McQueen, but I feel like that's probably his ceiling.
I talked to him after the game (there will be a piece coming tomorrow). He said he's still 100 percent committed to SMU and will be at the game tonight.
