Lamar University Athletics

-Two-Time Second-Team All-Southland Conference
-Defensive MVP of the 2016 FCS Scout Senior Bowl

Played in 46 games, earning 34 starts during his career.
 
2016 (Senior): Played in and started all 11 games … Second-Team All-Southland Conference selection … Ranked third in the Southland, and led the team, with 103 tackles … Was one of only three players in the conference to record 100 tackles … Of his 103 stops, 52 were solo tackles … Finished tied for fourth in the Southland with three interceptions … Was also credited with a tackle for a loss and five pass breakups … Ended the season with five double-figure tackle performances … Tied a career-high with 14 tackles, including one for a loss, and an interception at Houston … Followed that up with 10 stops, and an interception the following week against Sam Houston State … He returned the interception 41 yards against the Bearkats … Also broke up two other passes against SHSU … Recorded 13 stops against Southeastern Louisiana … Had 10 tackles, including eight solo stops, at Nicholls … Followed that up with 11 tackles and two breakups against Incarnate Word … Recorded eight stops (five unassisted) and picked off a pass at Central Arkansas.
    
2015 (Junior): Honorable Mention All-Southland Conference … Played in and started all 11 games … Recorded 87 tackles, including 45 unassisted stops … Was also credited with 1.5 tackles for losses and a forced fumble … Picked off two passes and broke up two other passes … Had three double-figure tackle performances … Set a career-high with 14 tackles against Central Arkansas … Tied his career high with a 14-tackle performance against Nicholls … Had 12 tackles, including eight unassisted, and picked off a pass at Southeastern Louisiana … Had six stops and recorded an interception at Baylor … Recorded 10 stops, including seven solos, at Northwestern State … Posted 13-tackle effort against McNeese … Forced a fumble in the win over Incarnate Word.

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, including three as a two-way starter ... Named second-team 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 ... 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.