The elite defensive back chose to stay in-state after a long commitment to to the Gators.
Elite safety Xavier Filsaime, who defected from the Florida Gators on Monday after paying the Forty Acres an official visit over the weekend, gives the Texas Longhorns even more momentum as they attempt to land one of the best classes of the 2024 cycle.
A two-sport standout from McKinney High School, Filsaime had 34 offers from the nation’s most sought-after prospects, including the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Longhorns, to whom he was committed until Monday. In this cycle, he made just three visits: an unofficial visit in April to commit to the Gators, followed by official visits in June to Gainesville and Tuscaloosa. Throughout the season, he never wavered in his devotion to Florida, but the Texas coaches continued to apply pressure and make physical contact with him.
That perseverance, together with the Gators’ and Longhorns’ disparate outcomes, created the opportunity for the flip.
Although there were public denials and misinformation about an impending flip, excitement about Texas’ pursuit of the top in-state defender persisted. The excitement led to an official visit to Austin, where the Gators made a flip, which was a major recruiting win for position coach Blake Gideon.
Joining Ryan Wingo, Collin Simmons, and Brandon Baker as the group’s top four recruits, his commitment makes Texas’s fourth five-star recruit of the cycle. With that, Texas moved up to tie Georgia for the second-best ranking in the nation, one spot behind the Ohio State Buckeyes, and passed Alabama on the list of five-star recruits. Filsaime barely beat out cornerback Kobe Black, another recent commit, to be the best defensive back in the class. Both players will have a chance to contribute right away.
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Filsaime is rated as the No. 2 safety and the No. 30 prospect nationally.Athleticism is demonstrated by Filsaime, a three-phase player, both on and off the football field. At 6’1 and 180 pounds, he is a decent height and weight, and his frame will allow him to gain more muscle when he gets to college. On tape, Filsaime can be seen playing deep safety, wide receiver, and nearly every special teams unit imaginable. In his film, Filsaime even depicts a punter stopping an offensive within their own five-yard line. No, I’m not joking.
Prior to switching to defense in his junior year in high school, Filsaime played wide receiver. Outside of the football field, Filsaime ran a respectable 10.52 seconds for the 100 meters and a 22.38 seconds for the 200 meters in his sophomore year. His agility and quickness are evident on film when he attacks ball carriers by launching himself downhill and when he manages the play in free space. demonstrates a readiness to overcome obstacles on screens. Although he can tackle well, he has to be more reliable in wrapping up tackles and taking players to the ground. demonstrates fluid hips when he needs to turn and run with receivers and has good, active feet when covering.
demonstrates good awareness of tipped and deflected passes; in his senior film, he managed to grab a couple of interceptions. Given his extensive expertise on multiple special teams units, Filsaime will have an early influence on special teams. If you saw him selling out for punts and running down on kickoffs as a freshman, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.
