Xavier Loyd trusted his gut.
Instead of accepting a scholarship from an Ivy League or FCS program, he walked on at Kansas State. The transfer portal opened a new opportunity a few years later, and he ran with it, landing at Illinois State and boosting his value into the eyes of the SEC.
With Power Four schools buzzing his phone, Loyd chose Missouri and committed Saturday after his visit. The Blue Springs (Mo.) High product returned to his home state with one season of eligibility remaining, and his community backed his decision.
"I'm just proud that I can use Xavier Loyd as an example of a guy who bided his time," Jed Paulsen said, "went through the process, kept developing, kept getting better, trusted the process, and now, he's getting the fruits of all his hard work."
Paulsen, the head coach of Blue Springs, served as the offensive line coach during Loyd's high school career. Yet while Loyd never got the opportunity to stay in Missouri for football after high school, his choice to return to his home state defined the loyalty aspect that Paulsen has preached to his athletes.
"I use the hashtag homegrown here all the time," Paulsen said. "I want our guys to stay local. I value loyalty. I think loyalty is something we're missing in college athletics today. ... I think the fact that he can come back home and finish his career at Mizzou is just an awesome thing for Xavier."
Loyd played with a chip on his shoulder, choosing to take a development route in college. He, most importantly in the eyes of his coaches, never listed to those who told him he couldn't make it.
"He's finally getting to play at Mizzou," Paulsen said. "I think that's what his dream always was. It was to play here at home, play for Mizzou, be in the SEC and show what he's all about."
Loyd excelled at 50/50 balls in high school. No matter the placement of the football, he used his height to his advantage, seamlessly coming down with every high-pointed pass in his direction.
"He came up big, time after time after time in crucial moments," Paulsen said. "When we had to have it, as a third down in a big game, we knew we were going to Xavier Loyd. ... The guy just has the ability to go up and track footballs and compete for them and bring those down."
Loyd's parents pushed him to not only be a good person on the field but also off it. His charisma made him a likable person around campus by his coaches, peers and teachers, and even years after high school, his close friends still follow his football career, recently visiting him for his spring game at Illinois State.
"In the hallways, he was a leader," Paulsen said. "He's just that leader that brings people together. He's just a super good human being, great morals and a very hard worker. Xavier Loyd is a guy you want to root for. He makes it easy to root for him."
Blue Springs' Xavier Loyd returns home to Mizzou for final college chapter
In high school, Xavier Loyd trusted his gut, choosing a longer journey to where he is today: back home at Missouri.
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