The Oklahoman's Super 30: Millwood's Xzavier Thompson 'just real consistent' despite size concerns
Xzavier Thompson was starting to get frustrated with the college football recruiting process.
The Millwood receiver has been a starter since he was a freshman and helped the Falcons reach the Class 2A state title game as a sophomore and junior.
And although colleges were showing interest, he entered 2024 with no offers.
Thompson wasn’t sure what the deal was.
“Just being patient all that time — wondering why I wasn’t getting no offers,” Thompson said. “Seeing everybody else get offers, I’m like, ‘I’m as good as him. Why ain’t I getting no offers?’”
Thompson finally got what he wanted on Feb. 7 when Arizona State offered him a scholarship.
The Sun Devils have former Steelers great Hines Ward as their wide receivers coach and they’re the only Division-I program to offer Thompson, but he’s staying patient as he prepares for his senior season and comes in at No. 30 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 list of the state’s top recruits in the 2025 class.
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“Just real consistent,” Millwood coach Darwin Franklin said of Thompson. “From his freshman year to now, just always being one of the guys that knows what he’s supposed to do. Doing what he’s supposed to do. I think the last few years, he’s showed that it wasn’t a one hit as a freshman where everybody was wondering, ‘Who’s this little kid that’s out here playing?’”
At 5-foot-10, 140 pounds, Thompson’s thin frame is likely the only thing that has prevented him from being a top-tier prospect.
“It’s hard really gaining weight,” Thompson said. “My metabolism — not that good — so that’s what a lot of coaches tell me, like, ‘Yeah. You just got to gain a little bit more weight. We’ll offer you.’”
Thompson might not have great size, but his speed is undeniable.
He won the Class 3A state title in the 400-meter dash in May, completing the race in 49.00 seconds.
On the gridiron, he has the ability to turn short catches into long touchdowns, zipping past opponents on his way to the end zone.
“I don’t think nobody can really run with me at the position that I play. … My speed is just different,” Thompson said.
A good comparison for Thompson is Chiefs receiver and former OU standout Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
Brown was at a similar weight as Thompson in his days before starring for the Sooners.
“Everybody looks at his size and thinks, ‘Ah, we don’t know,’” Franklin said. “They have a lot of questions, but shoot, he keeps the thing rolling.”
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Thompson is working to address the size concerns.
He’s been hitting the weights and trying to dial in on his nutrition.
“Just meal planning, lifting, doing my push-ups, doing everything that I’ve seen other players do that was just as small as me gain a lot of weight. Like my other teammates, most of them was my weight last year and now most of them is 160, so I’ve just been taking all the little suggestions to gain weight.”
Millwood has had great success during Thompson’s high school career.
The Falcons have lost to Washington in the last two title games, so getting over the hump and winning a championship is among Thompson’s main goals.
But that won’t be the only thing Thompson will chase this season.
“I really want that 1,000 receiving yards,” Thompson said. “That’s my top thing right now because we ain’t had a player do it in MIllwood history yet.”
Thompson will likely get plenty of opportunities with the ball in his hands.
He's electric in open space and makes things happen when Millwood needs it.
“We always knew he’s the one that keeps it moving,” Franklin said. “When you need a key possession, you need a big play, you may think it’ll be somebody else, but he’ll always find a way to get where he needs to be and to get guys on their heels and then break ‘em off how they’re supposed to.”
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The Oklahoman’s 2025 Super 30
Name: Xzavier Thompson
School: Millwood
Super 30 ranking: No. 30
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 140 pounds
Position: Wide receiver
Recruited by: Arizona State
About the series
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 feature series will spotlight each high school football player on the Super 30 recruit rankings for the 2025 class through July 21. The series began Thursday with No. 30, Millwood wide receiver Xzavier Thompson. See No. 29 on the list in Friday's edition.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS football: Xzavier Thompson, Millwood recruiting profile
