Andrew Tineo
The term, "hands in traffic" is a common theme within the pass-catching group on the College Station football team.
It's described as someone who can catch the ball in traffic. Although many names are thrown out during debates between the players of who's got the best hands on the team, to coaches and his football-driven family, it's senior wide receiver/tight end Xavier Vela.
College Station offensive coordinator Matt DeBerry is one of Vela's biggest advocates in the argument and has watched him grow, dating back to his early grade school years.
"We line [him] up at inside receiver one play, he could motion to the outside receiver, he could line up as an in-line tight end. He's lined up in the backfield," DeBerry said. "As the offensive coordinator, that's a great thing to have and a great tool in our playbook."
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Dating back to DeBerry's first season with College Station in 2015, the school held a passing academy which Vela attended at a young age.
"As I continue to coach here, and I develop relationships with seeing those guys, I also go to our junior highs and help out, like in the mornings a couple of days a week at their practices," DeBerry said. "We've known each other, and I've been able and fortunate to work [with him] for many years now."
Vela's father, L'Tydrick Riley, played wide receiver for Texas A&M from 2002-06, while his uncle, Anthony Vela, played fullback for the Aggies from 2007-09.
"I get that from my dad," Xavier said of his catching ability. "He usually always takes me out to the field to make sure my hands are always good. With my uncle, it was just about trusting the process, he was a walk-on and then got put on a scholarship, so he just taught me that patience is key, and if you just trust the process every day and go to work, you're going to get the results that you want."
His first opportunity to show his "hands in traffic" on varsity came as a sophomore when he filled in for an injured starter.
Then-senior Marquise Collins went down with an injury during Vela's sophomore year in a preseason scrimmage, leaving the door open for playing time on varsity. It was not only the team he was moving, but also a position, going from outside receiver to the Cougars' "R" position.
The position in the College Station offense is a versatile spot, as he can line up at inside receiver, tight end, as an H-back, or in the backfield on any given play.
"He fits that role well and, as a sophomore, got some pretty good snaps and some meaningful plays," DeBerry said. "Over time, he's just really developed into a big weapon for us, able to utilize him in different ways, which is very nice."
To Vela, his sophomore year was all about getting acclimated to the position. Last year was the season he felt it clicked for him as he hauled in 23 passes for 292 yards and four touchdowns.
The switch also put more of a vocal point on his blocking, something he was familiar with at receiver, but had different positions and angles to focus on when moving to the 'R' spot.
"Just learning how to block and how blocking is about angles and being at the right place at the right time," Vela said.
Vela had a special moment this season against rival A&M Consolidated, hauling in a 35-yard touchdown off a double reverse pass.
"We had installed it, like two weeks before, and coaches would run it during the walkthrough," Vela said. "When he threw it, I kind of stumbled a little bit, but then I caught it, and then I got the moment, and I scored. So that was a very surreal feeling of scoring in a rivalry game."
While Vela has grown into his own, so has his best friend and starting quarterback, Cade Corcoran, who threw him the touchdown pass.
"Knowing his time was coming and now [as a] senior, it's like he's full throttle and it's just kind of cool to see him develop like that when you're right there with him," Vela said.
Vela and the Cougars continue a run of 10 straight games at 7 p.m. Friday against Pflugerville Hendrickson at Pfield.
For most teams, it's uncommon to have the stretch of no bye week (or referred to in the program as a get better week) until Week 11, but it's something the coaching staff that has been with the Cougars since 2016 has some familiarity with.
"We had this same situation back in 2016 and '17," DeBerry said. "I don't want to say I'm used to it, but we've been on the spot before. So I think we have a good plan of what we're projecting and what we want to do."
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