Temple University Athletics
Captain Xach
11.10.22 | Football
Leadership is an unteachable type of talent that not many athletes are capable of exhibiting. It can be even more difficult to make an enormous impact in such a short time.
Defensive lineman Xach Gill did just that. Gill transferred to Temple from the University of North Carolina in the winter of 2021 and his impact was immediately felt throughout the entire team. The Wake Forest, N.C., native spent four years at UNC, where he played 26 total games, had two sacks, and lettered in his final two seasons. Gill then decided to make the difficult decision to transfer, leaving the state that he had spent his entire life in and move to an entirely different region of the country.
However, Temple University stood out to him while he was still in his playing days at UNC. "The history and the culture behind Temple TUFF and single-digit mentality. Coming from UNC we played Temple in [the 2019 Military Bowl] game, and we learned about the team's history and everything, and that stuck out to me," said Gill when asked about why he wanted to come to Temple University.
Before ever stepping on the field in a game situation, Gill unfortunately suffered an injury during the spring camp prior to the season. The injury would keep him out for the entire 2021 campaign. He never let that get him down, in fact he used it as an opportunity to grow as a player and teammate.
"It really has helped me to cherish the moments because you never know when your time is up, and it helped me build bonds." Despite being on the sideline, Gill still contributed to the team by being a leader on the sidelines.
Entering the 2022 season, Gill was voted on by his teammates to represent the team as one of the five captains on the team. Adam Klein, Jordan Magee, David Martin-Robinson, and Darian Varner are the other four.
After not having played in a year, Gill returned to the spot he loves most on the field, the nose tackle position. "I love being the anchor in the middle." He has played in all eight games for the team and made his first start for the Owls vs. Navy where he matched his career high in tackles with four. The Owls may not be where they want to be at the moment, but Gill is still optimistic for the remainder of the season. His main goal for the rest of the season isn't focused on himself, he just wants to see the team win as many games as possible.
The redshirt senior is in his final year of eligibility at the collegiate level. After his playing career, he wants to remain within the sports industry. Using his booming personality, he wants to pursue a career in sports media. "I really want to be in front of the camera, broadcasting, media, and journalism, something in that nature." Gill is a media studies and production major, who earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic team in 2021.
With only three games of the regular season remaining, Gill will look to make the most of his final opportunities on the field. The Owls are 3-6 currently and will need to win the final three games to be bowl eligible.
Defensive lineman Xach Gill did just that. Gill transferred to Temple from the University of North Carolina in the winter of 2021 and his impact was immediately felt throughout the entire team. The Wake Forest, N.C., native spent four years at UNC, where he played 26 total games, had two sacks, and lettered in his final two seasons. Gill then decided to make the difficult decision to transfer, leaving the state that he had spent his entire life in and move to an entirely different region of the country.
However, Temple University stood out to him while he was still in his playing days at UNC. "The history and the culture behind Temple TUFF and single-digit mentality. Coming from UNC we played Temple in [the 2019 Military Bowl] game, and we learned about the team's history and everything, and that stuck out to me," said Gill when asked about why he wanted to come to Temple University.
Before ever stepping on the field in a game situation, Gill unfortunately suffered an injury during the spring camp prior to the season. The injury would keep him out for the entire 2021 campaign. He never let that get him down, in fact he used it as an opportunity to grow as a player and teammate.
"It really has helped me to cherish the moments because you never know when your time is up, and it helped me build bonds." Despite being on the sideline, Gill still contributed to the team by being a leader on the sidelines.
Entering the 2022 season, Gill was voted on by his teammates to represent the team as one of the five captains on the team. Adam Klein, Jordan Magee, David Martin-Robinson, and Darian Varner are the other four.
After not having played in a year, Gill returned to the spot he loves most on the field, the nose tackle position. "I love being the anchor in the middle." He has played in all eight games for the team and made his first start for the Owls vs. Navy where he matched his career high in tackles with four. The Owls may not be where they want to be at the moment, but Gill is still optimistic for the remainder of the season. His main goal for the rest of the season isn't focused on himself, he just wants to see the team win as many games as possible.
The redshirt senior is in his final year of eligibility at the collegiate level. After his playing career, he wants to remain within the sports industry. Using his booming personality, he wants to pursue a career in sports media. "I really want to be in front of the camera, broadcasting, media, and journalism, something in that nature." Gill is a media studies and production major, who earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic team in 2021.
With only three games of the regular season remaining, Gill will look to make the most of his final opportunities on the field. The Owls are 3-6 currently and will need to win the final three games to be bowl eligible.
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 05
