Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516624
3 4 M A R C H 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 4 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / E very defensive line recruit is differ- ent. Some arrive on campus ready to compete with veteran college players. Others need time. Maryland native Xavier Gilliam could fall into either category. The 6-foot- 2, 294-pounder projects as an interior player in the Big Ten, but his tools re- semble those of some high-upside de- fensive ends who committed to Penn State before him. Gilliam, a three-star prospect who had 14 Power Five offers, picked the Nittany Lions last June after taking an official visit to campus. Around the same time, he was getting set to transfer to Quince Orchard High after three years at Wilde Lake. The move to one of Maryland's top high school programs only boosted his development during his final season. "He had a great year," Quince Orchard coach John Kelley told BWI. "He only got to us in August, so he needed time to just get more comfortable in our system. When you're comfortable, you can play fast, and when you play fast, you're bet- ter. And when you're talented, well, that helps, too." Gilliam put up plenty of stats as a prep player and looks to be the kind of pros- pect who could outperform his stand- ing in the On3 Industry Ranking (755th overall). One Nittany Lion staffer even believes there is a well-worn path al- ready in place for Gilliam to follow in State College. "The reason why we felt really com- fortable with him is, first of all, he holds weight well," assistant recruiting coor- dinator Alan Zemaitis said. "He's almost 290 pounds, and you would never guess that [looking at him]. He moves very well. He's always playing in the back- field. So, with our success with [rising junior] Zane Durant, we feel very good about getting Xavier Gilliam and really using him the same way." Durant was a contributor as a true freshman and went on to start 12 games last fall. It's too early to say whether Gil- liam has similar potential, but he looks to have the talent to turn heads during spring practice if he adjusts smoothly to the college level. He totaled more than 100 tackles in three high school seasons and netted 15 sacks while also forcing fumbles by using his speed and strength to jar the ball loose. He has plenty of skills that, on the surface, should trans- late to the college level. "He is a dynamic athlete who has an incredible presence around the line of scrimmage," Wilde Lake head coach Brian Henderson told BWI prior to Gil- liam's transfer. "He is being looked at as a hybrid pass defender who can put his hand in the ground or a stand-up rush end from the boundary. "[Gilliam is] explosive, strong, and very intelligent. He's one of the best pass rushers and can change direction on the drop of a dime. His best asset is how coachable he is. This young man has not reached his potential." — Greg Pickel Gilliam will likely start out on the inside at Penn State, but he was also an effective edge rusher in high school, totaling 15 sacks in three varsity seasons. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER XAVIER GILLIAM Defensive lineman could play multiple roles for Nittany Lions DT | 6-2 | 294 Quince Orchard Montgomery Village, Md. Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State On3 Industry ★★★ 755 64 26 On3 ★★★ — 46 13 ESPN ★★★★ — 18 11 Rivals ★★★ — — 31 247Sports ★★★ — 50 15 Statistics • Totaled 42 tackles as a senior, with 15 for loss and 6 sacks • Had 52 tackles as a junior, including 12.5 for loss and 6 sacks, while also totaling 4 forced fumbles • Had 23 tackles, 3 sacks and a blocked kick as a sophomore Notable • Led Quince Orchard to an 11-1 record in 2023 • Two-time first-team All-Howard County pick • Baltimore Touchdown Club Super 22 selec- tion in 2022 Recruitment • Committed to Penn State on June 4, 2023 • Recruited by defensive line coach Deion Barnes and tight ends coach Ty Howle • Picked Penn State over Duke, NC State and Virginia Tech • Officially visited on June 2, 2023 2024 Projection After a productive high school career, Gil- liam's first order of business at Penn State will be to add weight so he can play inside at the Big Ten level. Enrolling in January gave him a big boost, but he's still likely to redshirt this fall. They Said It BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "Gilliam is a classic Penn State defensive tackle prospect in so many ways. He's long, athletic, and has the potential to grow into the position within his first few years on campus. He lacks the overall size and power that you might expect to see at defensive tackle, but that doesn't mean he can't be a disruptive player at the col- lege level. He has the growth potential to be a starter for the Nittany Lions in the interior. "If it doesn't work out at defensive tackle, Gilliam could also play on the edge. He would have to manage his weight and work on his explosive speed, but he's got the length to play either defensive end position." T H E G I L L I A M F I L E