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South Dakota State University Athletics
2018 Football Roster
Ward, Xavier
Jersey Number 91
Xavier Ward
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 280
- Position:
- Defensive Tackle
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Freeman, S.D.
- High School:
- Canistota H.S.
- Major:
- Community and Public Health
Bio
PRONUNCIATION
HONORS AND AWARDS
2020-21: Was sidelined early in the season due to injury, but played in the final six games with five starts ... made season debut in road matchup at Southern Illinois ... registered three tackles, including one for loss, in regular season finale at North Dakota State ... recorded lone sack of the season in Football Championship Subdivision playoff opener against Holy Cross ... matched season high with three tackles and recovered a key fumble in quarterfinal playoff contest versus Southern Illinois ... notched pair of tackles in national championship game against Sam Houston
2019: Ran his streak on consecutive games started to 26 after starting all 13 games for second year in a row ... began season with a string of four consecutive games with at least a half-tackle for loss, including 1.5 TFLs in home opener versus Long Island ... honored as team's Defensive Player of the Week after three-tackle performance versus Drake ... matched then-career high of four total tackles in Beef Bowl win over Southern Utah, a game in which he also blocked a kick ... recorded solo sacks at Indiana State and Missouri State, as well as home game versus Illinois State ... also forced a fumble versus Illinois State ... closed regular season with two tackles, including tackle for loss, at South Dakota
2018: Started all 13 games on the interior of the Jackrabbit defensive line ... blocked an extra-point attempt in season-opening win over Montana State ... established new career high with four tackles, including half-tackle for loss, in regular season matchup at North Dakota State ... came up with key play in road win at Illinois State by forcing and recovering a fumble deep in Redbird territory to spark 21-point second-quarter outburst ... named team's Defensive Player of the Week in Illinois State game ... matched career high with four tackles in home victory against Missouri State ... recorded three tackles and forced a fumble in Football Championship Subdivision playoff quarterfinal at Kennesaw State
2017: Played in all 14 games in a reserve role as a true freshman ... credited with first collegiate tackle in win at Montana State ... tallied season-high two tackles, including tackle for loss, in back-to-back games against Illinois State and South Dakota ... notched one tackle in each of the Jackrabbits' three Football Championship Subdivision playoff games ... tackle in quarterfinal win over New Hampshire was for loss of two yards ... registered first career sack in semifinal loss at James Madison
BEFORE SDSU: Selected as Corn Belt Conference Most Valuable Player and earned first-team all-state recognition two times at Canistota High School ... member of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 ... totaled 32 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while adding three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior ... also anchored Canistota’s offensive unit with strong blocking for a team that racked up 560 points en route to the Class 9A state title his junior season .. is the school record holder in the shot put and placed second in the event at the 2016 Class B state track and field meet. ... an honor student, he plans to major in exercise science
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Hampshire Honor Society (2021)
- Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award (2020-21, 2021)
- MVFC Honor Roll (2017, 2020-21, 2021)
2020-21: Was sidelined early in the season due to injury, but played in the final six games with five starts ... made season debut in road matchup at Southern Illinois ... registered three tackles, including one for loss, in regular season finale at North Dakota State ... recorded lone sack of the season in Football Championship Subdivision playoff opener against Holy Cross ... matched season high with three tackles and recovered a key fumble in quarterfinal playoff contest versus Southern Illinois ... notched pair of tackles in national championship game against Sam Houston
2019: Ran his streak on consecutive games started to 26 after starting all 13 games for second year in a row ... began season with a string of four consecutive games with at least a half-tackle for loss, including 1.5 TFLs in home opener versus Long Island ... honored as team's Defensive Player of the Week after three-tackle performance versus Drake ... matched then-career high of four total tackles in Beef Bowl win over Southern Utah, a game in which he also blocked a kick ... recorded solo sacks at Indiana State and Missouri State, as well as home game versus Illinois State ... also forced a fumble versus Illinois State ... closed regular season with two tackles, including tackle for loss, at South Dakota
2018: Started all 13 games on the interior of the Jackrabbit defensive line ... blocked an extra-point attempt in season-opening win over Montana State ... established new career high with four tackles, including half-tackle for loss, in regular season matchup at North Dakota State ... came up with key play in road win at Illinois State by forcing and recovering a fumble deep in Redbird territory to spark 21-point second-quarter outburst ... named team's Defensive Player of the Week in Illinois State game ... matched career high with four tackles in home victory against Missouri State ... recorded three tackles and forced a fumble in Football Championship Subdivision playoff quarterfinal at Kennesaw State
2017: Played in all 14 games in a reserve role as a true freshman ... credited with first collegiate tackle in win at Montana State ... tallied season-high two tackles, including tackle for loss, in back-to-back games against Illinois State and South Dakota ... notched one tackle in each of the Jackrabbits' three Football Championship Subdivision playoff games ... tackle in quarterfinal win over New Hampshire was for loss of two yards ... registered first career sack in semifinal loss at James Madison
BEFORE SDSU: Selected as Corn Belt Conference Most Valuable Player and earned first-team all-state recognition two times at Canistota High School ... member of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 ... totaled 32 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while adding three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior ... also anchored Canistota’s offensive unit with strong blocking for a team that racked up 560 points en route to the Class 9A state title his junior season .. is the school record holder in the shot put and placed second in the event at the 2016 Class B state track and field meet. ... an honor student, he plans to major in exercise science
Dan Jackson Weekly Press Conference (09.09.2025)
Tuesday, September 09
Football Postgame Comments at Montana State (09.06.2025)
Sunday, September 07
Football Highlights at Montana State (09.06.2025)
Sunday, September 07
Gameday Eve - Montana State (09.05.2025)
Thursday, September 04
