Former Hokie Linebacker Prepares for the Next Level

2008 LPD News

A Look Back at Adibi's Outstanding Football Career

March 9, 2008

Xavier Adibi has been spending the last few months preparing himself for the NFL Combine and now for the upcoming NFL Draft. After an outstanding career at Virginia Tech, Xavier will be stepping into the work force and is expected to get a “small” salary increase.

Xavier has been working out at Athlete’s Performance in Arizona along with other future NFL stars to better prepare himself for the NFL.

For more info, see the exclusive interview.

Xavier Adibi bio:

• Named All-American by Prep Star as DL All-American by Super Prep as an LB
• 2002 AAA first-team American by the AP as a DL
• 2002 AAA Defensive Player of the Year for the coaches All-State team
• Help his high school team to back-to-back Group AAA championships
• 2007 All-American  and All ACC first team honors

An invaluable performer for the Hokies throughout his career, Xavier Adibi joined Vince Hall in forming one of the best linebacker tandems in college football. The duo would go on to record 695 tackles, 20 1/2 quarterback sacks, 60 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 52 pressures during their time together at Tech.

At Phoebus High School, Adibi was named an All-American by Prep Star as a defensive lineman and an All-American by Super Prep as a linebacker. The 2002 AAA first-team All-State selection by the Associated Press as a defensive lineman, he also earned first-team and Defensive Player of the Year honors on the 2002 AAA coaches All-State team. He received VHSCA All-Eastern Region and Newport News Daily Press All-Star Team honors as a defensive lineman as a senior. He was also a three-time Daily Press All-Star.

Adibi was rated the 12th-best player in the Mid-Atlantic region and the top prospect in the state of Virginia by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report. He was ranked the best player in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and rated the fourth-best linebacker in the nation and the premier player in Virginia by Super Prep. He added first-team All-Region accolades, along with picking up first-team AAA Coaches and Associated Press All-State recognition at defensive end as a junior.

Adibi helped his team to back-to-back Group AAA championships, leading a Phantoms' defense that held opponents to fewer than five points a game. He finished with a team-best 13 1/2 sacks and 100-plus tackles, including 31 for loss as a senior, as he also rushed for 575 yards and 11 touchdowns at fullback.

Adibi enrolled at Virginia Tech in 2003, spending the season on the scout team and was a member of the traveling squad, as his brother, Nathaniel, starred as a defensive end for the Hokies. Xavier Adibi got on the field for seven games as a reserve inside linebacker in 2004, missing six contests after he underwent surgery to repair a torn right biceps muscle, an injury suffered in the season opener vs. Southern California.

He would finish the season by posting 25 tackles (21 solo), two sacks and 4 1/2 stops for losses. He also caused a fumble and intercepted a pass. In 2005, Adibi took over right inside linebacker chores. He finished fourth on the squad with 69 tackles (28 solo) in 13 games, also coming up with three sacks and seven stops behind the line of scrimmage. He deflected four passes and picked off two others, returning one 25 yards for a touchdown.

As a junior, Adibi received All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team honors. He ranked second on the squad with 82 tackles (29 solo) in 13 contests at right inside line-backer. He delivered three sacks with 6 1/2 stops for losses, five pressures and three forced fumbles. He recovered a fumble for a touchdown, gained 49 yards on three interception returns and broke up three passes.

With Vince Hall injured for part of the season, Adibi handled the leadership role on the nation's fourth-ranked defensive unit. He led the team with a career-high 115 tackles (55 solo), adding three sacks and a team-high 12 stops for losses. He also caused a fumble, deflected five passes and intercepted two others, returning one for a touchdown. That performance earned him All-American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honors.

Asked about his breakout 2007 season, Adibi responded, "Plays are happening very slowly for me. I can read much, much quicker before the snap. My run-pass read is much quicker than it's ever been. I am just getting off the ball and getting into my pass drops and getting to the line and getting into my gaps faster. I am feeling real free right now."

"He's got great speed," said Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster. "That's the first asset. He's physical. He's got the ability to be a complete linebacker. That means they don't have to take him out after first or second down. Besides his ability, he has a good football IQ. I think they will like that. He knows how it works and will be a good team guy."

Related Stories:

• Adibi Bednarik Award finalist
• LPD-Adibi Exclusive Interview (LPD Blog)

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