How Jets hero Xavier Gipson rose above UDFA, FCS status
NEW YORK (BVM) – Though unheralded coming into the league, New York Jets rookie wide receiver Xavier Gipson didn’t take long to establish himself in the NFL. With 9 minutes and 19 seconds left in overtime and his Jets tied with the rival Buffalo Bills 16-16, the rookie was able to break free on a punt return, scoring the game-winning, walkoff touchdown. In the process, Gipson became the first player since 2011 to score on a walkoff punt return.
THE ROOKIE XAVIER GIPSON WINS IT! #BUFvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/lC26hn74bm
— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2023
“I had seen the ball in the air and I’d seen I had a shot,” Gipson said after the game. “I had seen my opportunity and I took it…I told [my teammates] I was going to go hard for them not just me. So it was personal.”
From undrafted to the game-winning TD.
Xavier Gipson won't ever forget this moment. @Gipson22X #BUFvsNYJ pic.twitter.com/dObkBy038I
— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2023
Jets fans were already a bit familiar with Gipson prior to the game thanks to his appearance on the HBO docuseries “Hard Knocks” where he learned that he had made the team as an undrafted free agent. Given his background, his game-winner is the culmination of a lot of determination for the rookie returner.
“Just believing in myself and trusting in God, He’s got a story for everyone,” Gipson told Jets reporters after the game. “I just buy into the process with Coach [Robert] Saleh and what he’s got going on, offense, defense and special teams and just knowing I don’t want to fail for these guys, not for me because I’ve seen how hard they work. But the process has been long. You’ve got to put extra work in on top of extra work. Have to come in day in and day out and give it your all.”
The best part of #HardKnocks? Seeing guys like @nyjets rookie WR Xavier Gipson find out they made the team. 🥹 @Gipson22X
New #HardKnocks tonight at 10pm ET on @StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/BsNpWFq4OE
— NFL (@NFL) September 5, 2023
Gipson knows a lot about long journeys. Growing up in the Dallas area, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound athlete was underrecruited coming out of Woodrow Wilson High School.
The dynamic playmaker played a little bit of everything for his Wildcats’ team, playing wideout on offense, cornerback on defense and served as the team’s primary return specialist. During the course of his three varsity seasons, Gipson registered 412 receiving yards and 41 rushing yards on offense, 84 tackles, 12 pass deflections, 10 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense, 568 punt return yards and 459 kick return yards on special teams as well as scoring 16 total touchdowns (six receiving, six punt returns, three kickoffs and a fumble return) in 23 games.
We always love when Alumni come back! Thanks you @Gipson22X for coming out to #HeismanHigh this morning to watch practice and talk to our football program. But more importantly, thank you for paving the way for future Wildcats!! #WoodrowAlum #CodeRed #TakeFlight #NFL pic.twitter.com/Z8sS3hv4Ti
— Woodrow Wilson Football (@WoodrowFootball) May 2, 2023
A three-star recruit by Rivals, Gipson only earned three offers from McNeese, SMU and Stephen F. Austin, but he ultimately committed to the Lumberjacks. This move paid off in a major way for both Gipson and SFA.
Q2 | 4:39 | SFA 20, Nicholls 21 | Xavier Gipson turned on the jets for the first touchdown of his collegiate career!#AxeEm | #RaiseTheAxe pic.twitter.com/DPktadlWJH
— Lumberjack Football (@SFA_Football) September 22, 2019
As a true freshman, Gipson starred for the Lumberjacks as he was named to HERO Sports Freshman All-American list after he set team-highs in receiving yardage (934), catches (52) and touchdown receptions (seven). This would be the start of what ended being a stellar career for the wideout as he racked up 5,402 all-purpose yards, 4,321 receiving yards and 41 total touchdowns along with two FCS AP All-America first team honors and twice being named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top offensive football student-athlete in the FCS.
Given his status as one of the top players at the FCS level, it came as no surprise that scouts made their way to Nacogdoches to watch him play. Among them was Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy.
.@SFA_Football WR Xavier Gipson (@Gipson22X) is one of top playmaking sub-FBS prospect in 2023 NFL draft.
Led all of FCS with 127.6 receiving yards per game and 14 receiving TD in ‘21. Legit PR ability (2 career TD) helps draft value.#BestoftheBest#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/JqYYddjy5U— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) August 27, 2022
Ultimately, Gipson would play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl instead, though he impressed with a 48-yard catch.
TYG🙏🏽 https://t.co/RpGGvnhlpG
— Xavier Gipson (@Gipson22X) January 29, 2023
Though he would go unselected in April’s NFL draft, Gipson quickly signed with the Jets. Once on the team, he impressed, so much so that he even made scouts return to his college tape.
.@nyjets @Gipson22X made a catch in the middle of the field that had me thinking it was @GarrettWilson_V . But it was the UDFA from Stephen F. Austin. Caught my eye. Made me go and watch some Lumberjack film @BaldyNFL #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/fEYHZYGVcL
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 26, 2023
Gipson’s journey is the blueprint for any player fortunate enough to find themselves fighting for an NFL roster spot. While the odds may be stacked against them, especially as undrafted free agents, these players could still make an impact on Sundays. Just look at Gipson, the star rookie of Week 1.
