Xavior Gray

Liberty University Football Media Day on June 19th, 2024. (Photo by Cassidy Paxton)

Class:
Junior
Position:
OL
Height:
6-8
Weight:
340
Prev School:
Akron
Hometown:
Massillon, Ohio

2023 (So.):

Conference USA All-Conference honorable mention
Phil Steele Postseason Conference USA All-Conference first team
Started all 14 games at right tackle for the Flames
Finished the year with a 59.9 offensive grade as ranked by PFF.com
Saw playing time on 837-of-1,008 offensive snaps (83.0 percent)
Ranked fifth on the team in total offensive snaps
Helped quarterback Kaidon Salter earn HERO Sports Group of Five National Player of the Year honors and CUSA MVP honors after finishing the year with 3,965 total offensive yards
Starting quarterback Kaidon Salter finished the year with 2,876 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns
Starting quarterback Kaidon Salter national rankings included No. 3 – Passing Efficiency (176.6), No. 3 – Points Responsible For (264), No. 3 – Rushing TDs by a Quarterback (12), No. 5 – Passing TDs (32), No. 5 – Points Responsible For per Game (18.9). No. 22 – Total Offense (283.2 yards per game)
Helped Liberty finish the season with the following national rankings:
- No. 1 – Rushing Offense (293.3 yards per game)
- No. 1 – Tackles for a Loss Allowed (2.64 per game)
- No. 2 – Sacks Allowed (0.64 per game)
- No. 2 – Passing Yards per Completion (16.19)
- No. 3 – Winning Percentage (92.9 percent)
- No. 4 – Total Offense (499.1 yards per game)
- No. 4 – Third Down Conversion Percentage (50.0 percent)
- No. 4 – Team Passing Efficiency (169.53)
- No. 4 – First Downs Offense (348 first downs)
- No. 8 – Time of Possession (Average per Game 33:04)
- No. 9 – Scoring Offense (38.3 points per game)
- No. 13 – Passed Had Intercepted (6)

Previous School:

Transferred to Liberty from Akron
Saw playing time in 24 games during the 2019-22 seasons
Saw playing time in 10 games during the 2021 season, starting five contests
Only played in three games during his final year at Akron in 2022
2021 Academic All-MAC selection
Finished his four seasons with 896 offensive snaps

Prep:

Graduated from Jackson High School in Massillon, Ohio
Two-star recruit by 247Sports.com
Played offensive tackle for head coach Tim Budd at Jackson
Third-team All-Ohio selection
All-Stark County
First-team All-Federal League and first-team All-Northeast Inland District pick
Lost more than 200 pounds over two seasons (started at 480).

Personal:

Son of Wendi Naumovski
Currently working on his MBA
Birthday is February 26

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
I chose liberty over other schools because of the people and connections that they offer.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
My mom inspires me because of her unwavering strength and resilience. No matter the challenges she faces, she handles them with grace and determination. Her endless compassion and support have shown me the importance of kindness and perseverance. She leads by example, demonstrating the value of hard work and the power of a positive attitude.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
The most memorable moment would probably be when I scored a touchdown against Kent St. in 2020. Either that or when we won the 2023 Conference Championship.

If you picked your jersey/uniform number, why is that number important to you?
I wear the number 63 because it was my dad’s number before he passed away.

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
My favorite breakfast is eggs, bacon, sausage, and waffles. My favorite lunch would be a nice cold cut deli sandwich and some chips. My favorite dinner is Steak Alfredo.

What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
I probably open Instagram or Twitter first in the morning.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
My favorite hobby outside of football would have to be cars.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Lebron James.

What is your favorite possession and why?
My Conference Championship ring is my favorite possession because I’ve always wanted to win a ring.

What is your Go-To karaoke song?
I’m not a singer lol.

What is your dream vacation spot and why?
My dream vacation would probably be Greece, I’m not sure why. I’ve always just enjoyed the aesthetics of it and think it would be great to see in person.