Relentless Pursuit - Xavior Gray

Below is the Player Feature Story in the Flames Illustrated game programs for the Jacksonville State game on October 30 (story provided by Fanword.com).
By Xavior Gray

For as long as I can remember, I've relied on vision to fuel my life.
It has always been my guiding light.
It has led me to many successes, and it's pulled me through some of the darkest times.
It's something I do every day, and it's a mindset I've adopted in both my personal and athletic life.
Visualizing success, in my opinion, is about finding the end goal you're striving for and being relentless in your pursuit of it each day.
It's a grind that may not always look pretty, but you have to be able to see the end result before it happens — it gives you the conviction to keep pushing forward.
When I was 12 years old, I lost my father to a heart attack.
It was a traumatizing experience that would scar me for years to come.
It was a moment when I remember feeling so small and helpless, not knowing where to turn or what to do next.
I turned to food as a source of comfort.
I was always a bigger kid, but my father's passing was the turning point where I developed a very unhealthy relationship with food.
I was never in great shape, and being overweight made it even more challenging to try to be an athlete.
I had asthma, I struggled to catch my breath, and I was often the target of bullying and body shaming. I didn't have a lot of confidence in myself, and I remember feeling like I was fighting an uphill battle each day.
And it was an uphill battle.
I was 502 pounds at one point.
There's no way to sugarcoat it — that's an incredibly unhealthy weight, and I knew that I was on a path of self-destruction if I didn't change my ways.
But for so long, I didn't have the vision or inspiration to make that change. I was just a young kid trying to find my way in a world that felt like it was constantly working against me.
I've had my share of challenges and adversity in life, but I've learned that sometimes, the hardest moments can lead to the most transformative breakthroughs.

A New Hope
I had a high school football coach, Jay Brophy, who saw the potential in me when I didn't see it in myself. He was a mentor, a father figure, and a guiding light who helped me navigate some of the darkest moments of my life.
It was Coach Brophy who helped me realize that my weight was holding me back in more ways than one.
It wasn't just about being a better football player — it was about living a better life.
My health was at risk. Coach Brophy made it clear that if I wanted to have a future as an athlete, I needed to change my lifestyle.
So, that's what I did.
I started eating healthier, exercising, and finding a routine that allowed me to shed the weight I had carried for so long.
It wasn't easy, and it didn't happen overnight, but I was determined to make a change.
I was running and doing cardio multiple times a day, and I eventually shed over 200 pounds in just over two years.
And when I stepped on the scale and saw that number, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment.
I was no longer the 502-pound kid who felt like the world was working against him.
I was a new and improved version of myself, and I had a newfound confidence that I had never experienced before.
In a lot of ways, I felt like that weight was a metaphor for the hardships I had faced in my life.
I was carrying around so much baggage and emotional pain, and I never realized how much it was weighing me down until I was able to let it go.
In the end, the people who were tearing me down were the ones who helped me rise up, and I'll always be grateful for that experience and the lessons I learned along the way.

A New Beginning
After graduating high school, I went on to play football at the University of Akron.
I was a two-year starter but as our team struggled to win games, I began questioning things.
I started to have my doubts about whether football was the right path for me, and I even considered leaving the sport altogether.
I had seen firsthand how quickly the game could be taken away from me, so I was prepared to walk away if I didn't feel like it was the right fit for me anymore.
And then, something amazing happened.
I entered the transfer portal.
The coaching staff at Liberty reached out to me and expressed interest in having me join the team. I was immediately drawn to Liberty because of its strong values and culture. It was a place where I felt like I could grow both as a football player and as a person, and I was excited about the opportunity to be a part of something special.
My time at Liberty has been an incredible blessing, the coaching staff has pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I've learned so much from my teammates and the entire Liberty community.

All Love at Liberty
One of the things that stood out to me about Liberty from the very beginning was its strong sense of community and family.
It was a place where people would tell each other that they loved them, and it was clear that there was a genuine sense of care and respect that extended far beyond the football field.
I saw how much the team embraced the players and supported each other, and it was exactly the type of environment I was looking for in a school and football program.
I was thrilled to be a part of a winning team and have the opportunity to compete, but my time at Liberty has been about so much more than football.
It's been about personal growth, resilience, and the power of community.
As I continue my journey at Liberty, I'm reminded of the people who have helped shape me into the person I am today.
My mother has been the most influential person in my life, and everything I've accomplished is a testament to her strength, courage, and love.
She worked two full-time jobs to provide for me and my sister, and everything we had growing up was because of her hard work.
She gave up so much for me, and I was determined to live a life that made her sacrifices worthwhile.
I was able to fulfill my promise to her by going to college and earning a scholarship, but it was a reminder of the journey we had traveled and the obstacles we had overcome along the way.
My mother is my hero, and everything I do is to honor her and make her proud.
I'm blessed to have her in my life, and I'm grateful for all the love and support she's given me over the years.

Leading By Example
I'm now in my second season at Liberty, and it's been an incredible ride so far.
I am blessed with the opportunity to be a team captain this year and its and honor to lead my teammates and be a part of something special.
Last year, I was able to play a pivotal role on the offensive line, and I was proud of the way we competed and worked together to achieve our goals. I even earned All-Conference honors and helped lead the team to a conference championship — and it was a season I'll never forget.
I'm happy to be back at Liberty for another season, and my goal is to continue to be a leader on and off the field. I hope to use my platform as a student-athlete to inspire others and encourage them to never give up on their dreams.
I'm incredibly grateful for the impact Liberty has had on my life, and I'm excited about the future and what's in store for the rest of the season.
I'm fortunate to be a part of such a special community, and I'm proud to represent Liberty as a student-athlete and ambassador for the university.
My vision has fueled my life, and I'm excited to see where it will take me next.

Schedule

Relentless Pursuit - Xavior Gray

Players Mentioned

Xavior Gray