Former Bartram Trail blazer Xavier Hutchinson is on his way to the NFL. Hutchinson was drafted 205th overall in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. As a Bartram Trail Bear, Hutchinson blazes a trail as a record breaker in college, which began as a high flyer in St. Johns County.
At Bartram Trail, Hutchinson made Third-team all-state and first team all-district as a senior. He recorded 74 receptions, for 1,004 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. As a senior, he helped lead Bartram to the Class 7A state championship game against Venice.
Hutchinson was a dual sport athlete playing basketball and football and it showed on the field. He possessed the ability to high point the football, leaping over defenders for touchdown catches. He also showed up in big games, none bigger than a showdown against nationally ranked Cartersville Georgia, who was led by current Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Now he will showdown against the quarterback twice a year as a memebr of the Houston Texans as AFC South rivals.
In two seasons at Blinn Junior College, Hutchinson had 11 receptions for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman, and tallied 47 receptions for 652 yards and 5 touchdowns as a sophomore. Those numbers landed him as the No. 74 junior college player in the nation, and the No. 9 wide receiver in the nation by 247Sports. He chose to transfer to Iowa State in 2020.
In 2020, Hutchinson led the Cyclones in receptions (64) and receiving yards (771), and was second on the team in touchdown catches (4). In 2021, he led Iowa State with a single-season record 83 receptions (second in the Big 12 and 41st nationally) with 987 receiving yards. Those numbers were good enough for the sixth-best season total in school history. He finished second on the team in touchdown catches (5).
In 2022, Hutchinson out did himself, breaking his own single-season school record with 107 receptions, (the first Cyclone in school history to record 100 receptions in a season) and 6 touchdowns. He was the first player to lead the Big 12 in receptions three consecutive seasons. He finished his career at Iowa State with 254 receptions in just three years.
Awards
Biletnikoff Award Finalist (2022)
First Team All-American – Associated Press, Pro Football Focus (2022)
Second Team All-American – AFCA, CBS Sports (2022)
Third Team All-American – Phil Steele (2022)
First Team All-Big 12 – Coaches (2020, 2021, 2022)
First Team All-Big 12 – Associated Press (2022)
First Team All-Big 12 – Phil Steele (2022)
First Team All-Big 12 – Pro Football Network (2022)
Big 12 Receiver of the Year – Pro Football Network (2022)
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist (2022)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Participant (2022)
Walter Camp Award Player of the Year Watch List (2022)
Maxwell Award Watch List (2022)
Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year (2020)
Hutchinson’s journey took him the Jucco route, where he became a 3-star recruit heading to the Big 12 and then to Iowa State. Now, he is on his way to the NFL, a story that should inspire all local prep and collegiate athletes. It’s not where you go, it’s what you do when you get there.
