By Marco Salas
TEMPE — The ASU Football program looks to light up Sun Devil Stadium with Head Coach Kenny Dillingham’s first season in Tempe. A mastermind of explosive offenses, Dillingham will have returners such as tight end Jalin Conyers and wide receiver Elijah Badger who are big-play threats waiting to happen, but there is one incoming wide receiver everyone should become familiar with: Xavier Guillory.
A Redshirt Junior from Idaho State, Xavier Guillory will look to become the next breakout star in the maroon and gold. Guillory made Tempe his new home because he wanted to maximize his abilities on and off the field.
“After being at another school for the past three years I got to know what worked for me and what didn't, so I wanted to go to a school that could maximize my abilities in an offensive scheme and play for a coaching staff that I can connect with.”
Joining Guillory in Tempe is his previous Idaho State head coach Charlie Ragle, and Beau Baldwin, who he has known since high school. Having Ragle around coaching him has made practicing with a new team easier for Guillory.
“Having Coach Ragle just makes it easy for me just go out there every day, knowing that I already got a coach that has seen me play and knows what I’m capable of. It makes me quite relaxed out there because he already knows what I can do on Saturday.”
Guillory is from Lapwai, Idaho and is part of the Nez Perce Tribal Nation. He’s half Black and half Native American and wants to showcase what Native American athletes can do. When he steps out on to the field on September 1st against Southern Utah, he will look to prove that Native Americans can ball too.
“Being a Native American athlete - it's very rare. We don't get a lot of respect in the collegiate and professional ranks, and you don’t see as many Native American athletes as you'd like to see. There are so many great Native American athletes out there, they just might not have the opportunity to showcase their talents.”
A big reason Guillory plays football is due to his dad, Raphael. Guillory’s father was a major influence in his life, teaching him lessons that would prepare him for the world.
“He's been a major influence and ever since I was little he was always right beside me, working out with me and teaching me the game, teaching me how to be a man. He taught me it's tough being a minority in this world that you have to you have to fight for everything that you earn.”
Raphael passed away in November 2020 due to colon cancer. Since his passing, Guillory has found comfort in the spirituality that his father taught him.
“My dad was a big help for me to get to where I'm at today as man and as an athlete because he believed in me before anybody did,” Guillory said. “He taught me how to have a relationship with the lord. I've been through a lot of pain, a lot of heartbreak, but I must remember everything that he taught me and just rely on the Lord. Now it's all coming together, I just got to keep my mind straight and stay humble and hungry.”
Once it’s all said and done and he hangs up his cleats for good, Guillory wants to get into broadcasting as well as give back to his community by hosting football clinics and coaching.
“I'm really interested in broadcasting because I feel like I have a good understanding of sports and life outside of it. I also want to help my tribe and work with them to provide opportunities to other Native Americans like putting on football camps, or just being a coach. I want to use my voice to be able to spread the word and talk and I feel there’s a lot of streams for me to follow.”
The 2023 Sun Devil Football season is fast approaching, and the excitement about the new look of the program has never been higher. With eight home games on the schedule, secure your tickets now to see the Sun Devils in action this fall.
Season tickets for the 2023 season are also available and remain the best way to catch all eight home games on the calendar. Both mini plans and season ticket options can be purchased at SunDevilTickets.com.