Xazavian Valladay Bio
Xazavian Valladay is an American professional football running back who has spent time with multiple National Football League franchises since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Valladay built a productive college career as a featured back for the Wyoming Cowboys before finishing his eligibility with the Arizona State Sun Devils. He has since navigated a journeyman path through several practice squads and active-roster stints, most recently with the Minnesota Vikings.
Across his college years at Wyoming and Arizona State, Valladay established himself as a durable, high-volume rusher, accumulating more than 4,400 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. While he has yet to cement a long-term starting role in the NFL, his versatility as a runner and pass catcher has kept him on team radars throughout the league.
Early Life and Background
Xazavian Valladay was born on July 3, 1999, in Matteson, Illinois, a suburb on the south side of the Chicago metropolitan area. He grew up in the same community that produced several notable football players, which gave him early exposure to the sport through local youth leagues and high school programs. Valladay attended Brother Rice High School, a Catholic school in Chicago known for its competitive athletic tradition.
At Brother Rice, Valladay became a key contributor in the backfield and helped the Crusaders post a 9–3 record during his senior campaign. That season included an appearance in the 2016 Illinois Class 8A State Playoffs, where Brother Rice entered as the number eight seed. The combination of team success and Valladay’s individual production drew attention from college scouts and helped him secure a scholarship opportunity.
Following high school, Valladay opted to take his talents to the Mountain West Conference, committing to play college football at the University of Wyoming. The decision allowed him to step into a program where he could compete for carries early in his career while adjusting to the demands of Division I football.
Path to American Football
Valladay’s development accelerated quickly once he arrived in Laramie, where Wyoming’s offensive system gave him the chance to shoulder a significant workload as a freshman in 2018. He capped that debut season with a breakout performance in the Cowboys’ finale, rushing for 192 yards and two touchdowns against New Mexico to push Wyoming to bowl eligibility. That game signaled his potential as a featured back at the collegiate level.
The 2019 campaign marked Valladay’s arrival as one of the top running backs in the Mountain West. He racked up 1,265 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 247 carries, while also contributing 11 receptions for 211 yards and two scores through the air. He saved his best for the postseason, rushing for 204 yards and a touchdown in the 2019 Arizona Bowl against Georgia State and earning Offensive MVP honors as Wyoming captured the bowl victory. His performance earned him a spot on the 2019 First Team All-Mountain West roster.
By his junior and senior seasons, Valladay had cemented himself as Wyoming’s offensive centerpiece. He earned consecutive First Team All-Mountain West honors in 2020 after a shortened season, then picked up Second Team All-Mountain West recognition in 2021 when he again topped 1,000 rushing yards. After the 2021 campaign, Valladay announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal, seeking a final season of eligibility at a program with a high-volume passing attack. He landed at Arizona State, where he immediately became the Sun Devils’ lead back.
Xazavian Valladay Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Valladay opened his college career as a complementary piece in Wyoming’s backfield, finishing 2018 with 396 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 71 carries. His late-season surge, highlighted by the 192-yard effort against New Mexico, gave the coaching staff confidence to expand his role the following year. He also contributed as a receiver, hauling in four passes for 35 yards during the 2018 regular season.
The 2019 season represented Valladay’s true emergence. Beyond his regular-season production, his Arizona Bowl performance cemented his reputation as a big-game performer. The Offensive MVP award served as a launching pad for the next phase of his development, establishing him as one of the most productive young rushers in the Mountain West Conference.
Wyoming Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Valladay remained Wyoming’s offensive engine despite the disruptions of the pandemic-shortened 2020 schedule. In 2020, he posted 550 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 99 carries, adding 13 receptions for 105 yards. His second consecutive First Team All-Mountain West selection underscored his consistency even in a condensed campaign.
The 2021 season saw Valladay return to full form, finishing with 1,063 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 209 carries while also racking up 23 receptions for 233 yards out of the backfield. He earned Second Team All-Mountain West recognition for his efforts, capping a four-year run as one of the most productive backs in program history. His decision to explore the transfer portal at season’s end opened the door to a new chapter at Arizona State.
Arizona State Era (2022)
Valladay transferred to Arizona State for his senior season, and the Sun Devils quickly put the ball in his hands. He delivered a stellar debut, rushing for 116 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 1 win over Northern Arizona. He continued to produce throughout the year, highlighted by a 118-yard, three-touchdown performance in a victory over Colorado.
Valladay closed his college career with 1,192 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 215 carries at Arizona State, adding 37 receptions for 289 yards and two scores as a pass catcher. His efforts earned him Second Team All-Pac-12 honors. Across his full college career at Wyoming and Arizona State, he totaled 4,466 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns on 841 carries, with 88 receptions for 873 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers (2023)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Valladay signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. His initial stint with the Texans was short, as he was released on August 13, 2023, during the early rounds of roster trimming. Valladay quickly found another opportunity, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 15, 2023, but he was again released during final cuts on August 29.
Two days after his release from Pittsburgh, Valladay joined the New York Jets practice squad on August 30, 2023, giving him a developmental landing spot to continue adjusting to the professional level.
New York Jets Era (2023–2024)
Valladay spent the bulk of the 2023 regular season on the Jets practice squad, refining his craft in a system known for its zone-based rushing attack. His patience was rewarded on January 6, 2024, when he was promoted to the active roster. The elevation gave him a brief window of regular-season experience at the highest level.
In 2024, Valladay remained in the Jets organization through training camp but was waived on August 27, 2024, before being re-signed to the practice squad. He was released from the practice squad on September 11, 2024, ending his second stint with the team.
New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings (2024–2025)
On November 6, 2024, Valladay signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad, where he continued to build his professional resume. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Saints on January 6, 2025, signaling the team’s interest in retaining him for the following season. He was ultimately waived by New Orleans on June 20, 2025.
Shortly after his release from the Saints, Valladay signed with the Minnesota Vikings on August 19, 2025. He was waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26, then re-signed to the Vikings practice squad the following day. Valladay was released from the Vikings practice squad on September 23, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Valladay’s career came in the 2019 Arizona Bowl, when he rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown, added 91 receiving yards and a score, and was named Offensive MVP as Wyoming defeated Georgia State. He followed that performance with three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons across 2019, 2021, and 2022, establishing himself as one of the most productive backs in Wyoming and Arizona State history.
Xazavian Valladay Career Wins
While Valladay’s professional career has been defined more by perseverance than by trophy cases, his college resume features several high-profile victories and individual awards. Across his time at Wyoming and Arizona State, he helped lead his teams to multiple bowl eligibility seasons and a 2019 Arizona Bowl championship, and he collected First Team All-Mountain West honors in 2019 and 2020, Second Team All-Mountain West in 2021, and Second Team All-Pac-12 in 2022.
College Highlights
Valladay’s college highlights begin with his 2019 Arizona Bowl MVP performance against Georgia State and include three 1,000-yard rushing seasons across his final three collegiate campaigns. His 16 rushing touchdowns at Arizona State in 2022 represented the most productive single scoring season of his career.
Other Performances
Beyond his headline games, Valladay posted consistent production against Power Five competition, including his 116-yard, two-touchdown debut for Arizona State against Northern Arizona and his 118-yard, three-touchdown performance in a win over Colorado. His ability to contribute in both the run and pass games has been a hallmark of his career at every level.
Xazavian Valladay Family
Personal Life
Xazavian Valladay continues to maintain ties to his hometown of Matteson, Illinois, where he grew up and developed into a college football prospect. Public details about his personal and family life remain limited, and he has kept his off-field life largely out of the spotlight while focusing on his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Valladay’s 2025 campaign began with a reserve/future contract from the New Orleans Saints in January, offering a measure of stability after a series of practice-squad moves in 2023 and 2024. That contract was terminated on June 20, 2025, leaving him to seek a new opportunity heading into training camp. He quickly found a fit with the Minnesota Vikings, signing with the team on August 19, 2025.
Although Valladay was waived by the Vikings during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, he returned to the organization the very next day on a practice-squad deal. That quick turnaround illustrated the team’s interest in retaining him as a developmental option. His time on the Vikings practice squad ended on September 23, 2025.
Looking ahead, Valladay’s path back to an active NFL roster will likely depend on his ability to showcase his pass-catching versatility and special teams value. With multiple teams having already invested practice-squad resources in him, his experience across several offensive systems should serve as a foundation for the next opportunity that arises.