After he had a breakout season at Plainville High School in 2024, Xavier Hairston Xavier Hairston 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB/ATH State New E transferred to The Taft School and repeated his sophomore season. He certainly didn’t look out of place against the step-up in competition, as he rushed for 725 yards on 140 carries, caught 17 passes for 325 yards and returned six kickoffs for 150 yards. One thing that stood out while watching Hairston’s 2025 film was how fluid he looked as a receiver out of the backfield, and his ability to make big plays following the catch. He had 33 receptions for 304 yards during his final season with Plainville. Hairston also has many of the traits you look for in an above-average running back. He’s good at identifying where the running room is, hits the hole hard and has enough speed to run away from most defenders. He also makes good cuts when running in traffic. His 2025 film did not show his ability as a blocker or as a kick-returner, but he’s certainly one of the top running backs in New England and polished for his age. There’s certainly the potential for a very productive season as both a runner and a receiver in 2026.

Prep Redzone Recruiting Rankings Update Report
We’re incredibly excited to welcome Xavier Hairston Xavier Hairston 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB/ATH State New E from Taft School into the New England CLASS OF 2028 rankings! At 5’10” and 180 pounds, Xavier had a spectacular breakout season in fall 2024, rushing for a staggering 1,307 yards on 215 carries, averaging an impressive 6.1 yards per carry. With 15 rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns under his belt, he totaled 1,760 yards from scrimmage and an astounding 18 touchdowns!
Xavier’s accolades speak volumes, as he earned NFP/BWWA CCC Player of the Week honors against Rocky Hill and was recognized as GameTime Connecticut Player of the Week against Weston. He was named All-Conference in CCC Tier 4 and All-State in Class S/SS, highlighting one of the most productive sophomore seasons in Connecticut!
As an every-down back, Xavier excels with his speed outside the tackles while maintaining a physical presence in tight situations. His sharp instincts allow him to read blocks with patience, and he possesses exceptional change-of-direction ability in space. He’s also a dual threat, showing great hands as a receiver and capability on the defensive side as a DB. Currently ranked as the #54 overall player and the #9 running back in New England, Xavier Hairston Xavier Hairston 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB/ATH State New E is definitely a prospect to keep an eye on! 🌟🏈

Xavier is coming off one of the most productive sophomore campaigns in the state of Connecticut. Xavier is an every-down back. He runs the ball with speed outside the tackles and with a physical presence in the box. He shows good patience and reads his blocks well. Xavier highlights his change of direction ability in space. Shows good hands and can come out of the backfield to be a pass threat. I think Xavier has a complete skillset at the RB position.