Lamar University Athletics

Comes out of the spring listed as a starter at safety … One of the top returning safeties in the country … Has played in 24 games, earning 12 starts during his career.

2014 (Sophomore): Second-team All-Southland Conference … Played in and started all 12 games … Was second on the team, and finished sixth in the Southland Conference with 98 tackles, including 42 solo stops … Also recorded 4.5 tackles for losses, including one sack … Picked off two passes which were returned 40 yards … Had three pass breakups, forced two fumbles, recovered another fumble and had a QB hurry … Had six double-figure tackle performances … Opened the season with 11 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, and one sack against Grambling State … Also forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and broke up another against the Tigers … Followed that up with an 11-tackle performance at Texas A&M … Five of his tackles against the Aggies were unassisted … Also forced a fumble against Texas A&M … Notched a new career-high with 13 tackles - including six solo stops - and a pass breakup against Sam Houston State … Set a new career-high two weeks later with 15 tackles, including one for a loss against the defending conference champion Southeastern Louisiana Lions … Also picked off a pass against SLU which he returned 40 yards for a touchdown … Tied his career-high with 15 tackles, including six solos, and one tackle for a loss at Central Arkansas … Also had a 10-tackle effort, with a quarterback hurry, in the win over Houston Baptist.

2013 (Freshman): Played in all 12 games ... Finished the season with 12 tackles, including four solo stops ... Also recovered a fumble ... Recorded a tackle in every game but one ... Posted a season-high two tackles at Northwestern State ... Recovered a fumble against Nicholls State.

2012: Redshirted

High School: Played four varsity seasons at Burton High School, including three as a two-way starter ... Named second-team Class A all-state at safety and honorable mention at quarterback ... Played quarterback and defensive back as a senior when Burton advanced to the Texas Class A state semifinals with a 12-3 record ... Rushed for 1,324 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, while also completing 84-of-149 passes for 1,252 yards and 19 touchdowns ... Also registered 119 total tackles (41 solo), 12 tackles for loss and one interception in 11 games ... Was named District 13-A MVP as a junior as the Panthers finished with a 12-1 record ... Finished sixth at the state meet in the triple jump (43-9), seventh in the high jump (6-2) and seventh in the 400 meters (50.95) as a junior ... Also lettered in basketball and baseball.

Personal: Xavier Bethany was born on Feb. 13, 1993 ... Nephew of Christine Matson ... Majoring in kinesiology.