Xavier Guillory, WR Arizona State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Guillory was a three-star recruit from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Wash. in the class of 2019

Idaho State wide receiver Xavier Guillory transferred to Arizona State this spring. The All-Big Sky selection joins a talented group of Sun Devils pass catchers. Guillory could emerge as Arizona State’s top receiver this coming season and cement himself as one of the top risers in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Xavier Guillory, WR Arizona State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior wide receiver from Spokane, Wash.

Background: Guillory was a three-star recruit from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Wash. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 2,695 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 2,341 for On3.com. Guillory was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals and didn’t receive a rating or grade out of 100 from ESPN. He originally committed to Air Force before decommitting and signing with Idaho State. Guillory transferred from Idaho State to Arizona State for the 2023 season. He amassed 45 receptions for 725 yards and 11 touchdowns and added 50 tackles and six interceptions on defense in high school. Guillory was selected as a high school First Team All-League wide receiver.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed two games in 2021, suspended for the final 2022 game because of an arrest resulting in a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge

Awards: 2022 Second Team All-Big Sky

Pros: Experience playing out wide and in the slot, room on frame to add mass, thrived despite poor quarterback play, footwork in his releases and early in his stem is excellent, release package to defeat press coverage with footwork, hesitations, and route fakes, hand fights to help defeat press, effective head and arm fakes, choppy footwork freezes defenders at the top of the stem, varies route tempo and uses lethal hesitations to freeze defenders, long strides pair well with fast feet, displayed speed to pull away from defenders and house slants and shallow posts for touchdowns, impressive acceleration, rolls with the quarterback and continues working to get open on extended plays, splash plays generated by great ball tracking and concentration on contested catches, makes catches over and around defenders, impressive vertical expands his catch radius, adjusts route pacing to work back to the ball on underthrows on vertical routes, comfortable tapping/dragging feet along the sideline, willing run blocker who seals off the corner

Cons: Enters 2023 with under 50 career special teams snaps, competition level, two fumbles in 2022, five drops in 2022, some bobbles on tape, needs to high point and rise to the football more often, not sudden or twitchy, doesn’t have elite deep speed, doesn’t deter defenses from playing press coverage with his speed, instances of being caught from behind, inconsistent deep downfield production and separation, room to improve release speed and timing, doesn’t maintain top speed into and out of sharp cuts, drifts downfield when breaking on out routes and when attempting to work back down his stem on comeback routes, more hip sink will help, lacks elusiveness in the open field

Overview: Guillory split snaps between the slot and out wide in 2022. He rarely played on the special teams units at Idaho State but did pick up two tackles and a forced fumble on the coverage teams in 2022 despite limited snaps. Guillory thrived at Idaho State despite poor quarterback play and injuries to the team’s top passer. His frame is lean, but he has room to add mass. Guillory’s footwork in his releases and early in his stem is excellent. His release package is in great shape to transition to the NFL. The Washington native’s footwork and hand usage against press coverage is polished. He also uses effective head and arm fakes, route tempo, and hesitation moves to generate separation during his route. Guillory’s choppy footwork freezes defenders at the top of the stem. His long strides pair well with his fast feet to threaten defenses vertically. Guillory’s speed and impressive acceleration allow him to pull away from defenders on slants and shallow posts to generate massive gains. He reportedly runs a 4.16 20-yard shuttle, which would’ve ranked fifth among 19 wide receiver times at the 2023 NFL Combine. The former three-star recruit rolls with the quarterback and continues working to get open on extended plays. His ball tracking and concentration stand out in contested catch situations. Guillory makes catches over and around defenders and uses his impressive vertical leap to expand his catch radius. He works back to the ball on underthrown passes. Guillory is comfortable dragging his feet for sideline snags. He’s a willing run blocker with the physicality to lock up corners. His yards after the catch primarily come from his speed. Guillory occasionally breaks an arm tackle or throws a stiff arm to pick up some extra yards, but he’s not a wrecking ball. Guillory isn’t a sudden or twitchy athlete and doesn’t display impactful elusiveness in the open field. There are moments where it’s hard to tell if Guillory is running fast or if the defenders he’s facing are that far below FBS-level expectations. His acceleration is impressive, but he doesn’t have elite deep speed. Defenses aren’t afraid to play press coverage on Guillory, and his ability to generate separation downfield is inconsistent. Improving his release speed and timing will give him an extra half-step off the line. The transfer doesn’t maintain and carry his full speed into and out of sharp cuts. He drifts downfield when breaking on out routes and when attempting to work back down his stem on comeback routes. Sinking his hips more and focusing on route definition will prevent this. Ball security was an issue for the All-Big Sky receiver. He fumbled twice and dropped five passes in 2022. Guillory needs to maximize his traits by high pointing the ball more often.

Overall, Guillory is a well-rounded receiver with an exciting combination of acceleration, footwork, release packages, and size. He excels at a lot of what caused Stanford wide receiver Michael Wilson to rise late in the 2023 draft cycle. Idaho State’s competition level clouds Guillory’s draft projection. Right now, he should be projected anywhere from the late third to mid-fifth round.

Role & Scheme Fit: Big slot or outside Z receiver

Round Projection: Late Third to Early Fourth

Size: 6'2", 195 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 06-07-23