University of Tennessee Athletics
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Xavier Gilliam
- Position:
- DL
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 300
- Class:
- Redshirt Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Montgomery Village, Md.
- High School:
- Quince Orchard
CAREER
Physical defensive tackle with a strong trajectory who is expected to make an immediate impact in his first season at Tennessee … Transfers from Penn State where he played two seasons, including the 2025 campaign under Jim Knowles … Ranked the No. 6 defensive lineman in the 2026 transfer portal by 247Sports and No. 8 by On3 … Enrolled at Tennessee in January 2026 and owns three seasons of remaining eligibility, including the 2026 year … Owns 16 tackles and action on 464 defensive snaps.2025 – RS-FRESHMAN (PENN STATE)
A major contributor in the middle for Penn State, playing in all 13 games with two starts … Collected 15 tackles with two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one QB hurry, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal … Played 409 defensive snaps … Started in the Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson (12/27) … Secured a tackle and a half-sack at Rutgers (11/29) … Posted two tackles and for a loss of three yards vs. Nebraska (11/22) … Notched one tackle in his first career start at Michigan State (11/15) … Had one tackle in games against Ohio State (11/1) and Indiana (11/8) … Tallied one solo tackle and blocked a field goal that resulted in a touchdown at Iowa (10/18) … Also had solo tackles against UCLA (10/4), Northwestern (10/11) and Villanova (9/13) … Finished with four tackles, two solo and 1.5 tackles for loss against FIU (9/6).2024 – FRESHMAN (PENN STATE)
Appeared in five games and earned a redshirt as a true freshman with 55 snaps … Played against Kent State, Purdue, Maryland, SMU and the CFP quarterfinal Fiesta Bowl vs. Boise State … Had one tackle against Maryland (11/30).HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL
A four-star prospect by ESPN and a three-star recruit by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals … Played at Quince Orchard High School for head coach John Kelley ... Was a three-year letterman ... Played at Wilde Lake High School from 2020-22 for head coach Brian Henderson ... Led the Cougars to an 11-1 record as a senior ... Named first-team all-metro in 2023 and first-team All-Howard County selection in 2022 and 2023 as a defensive tackle ... Tabbed Baltimore Touchdown Club Super 22 in 2022 ... As a senior, collected 42 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks ... As a junior, tallied 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, four forced fumbles and a pass breakup...Secured 23 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick as a sophomore ... Ranked as the No. 18 defensive tackle and No. 8 prospect in Maryland by ESPN ... Tabbed as the No. 13 prospect in Maryland by 247Sports and No. 15 player in the state by On3 ... Also played baseball and basketball at Wilde Lake, earning first-team all-county honors in 2021 ... In basketball, was second-team all-county as a sophomore and first-team all-county as a junior, helping Wilde Lake to county and regional championships … Son of Cecil and Katia Gilliam ... Has two brothers, Kacey and Cecil … Father, Cecil, played football at Morgan State (1996-97) ... Uncle, Sean McNeely, played basketball at McDaniel College (2003-05) ... Cousin, Kelvin Gilliam, is a defensive lineman who played at Oklahoma and Virginia Tech ... Great Uncle, Mahlon Duckett, played baseball for the Philadelphia Stars and Homestead Grays (1940-50) ... Aspires to be a coach one day … Instagram handle is @xaviergilliam_ … X handle is @XavierGilliam_FB | Music City Bowl Postgame Press Conference (12.30.25)
Tuesday, December 30
FB | Joey Halzle & William Inge Music City Bowl Preview Press Conference (12.29.25)
Monday, December 29
FB | Josh Heupel Music City Bowl Preview Press Conference (12.29.25)
Monday, December 29
FB | DeSean Bishop Media Availability (12.27.25)
Saturday, December 27
