Xavier Carlton doesn't talk much. He never really has.

The truth is though, he has a lot to say. The rest of the world just doesn't know it yet.

"It's better to be a silent warrior than a loud one," Carlton said. "When you're coming in silence, no one expects you."

Opposing teams would be hard-pressed not to expect the senior's presence on Saturdays. Perpetually lurking on the edge with long arms and a colossal 6-foot-6, 275-pound frame, Carlton has made life difficult for offenses this year, whether he's drawing triple teams at the line or shutting down passing lanes in coverage.

Carlton has the seventh-highest sack rate in the country this season, with a career-high nine sacks in nine games. His most recent effort saw him finish with five tackles, two sacks and a pair of QB hurries in Cal football's 46-36 win over Wake Forest. That resulted in an ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week award, the first in-season conference honor of his career.

What Carlton was able to accomplish in that game, and all throughout his senior season, has all been a part of his plan to prove his doubters wrong, something that's been front and center in his mind for some time.

"After the season I had in 2023, I went on the internet one day to look at the NFL draft stock and where people are at. I was basically fifth, maybe seventh round," Carlton said. "That kind of irked me a little bit."

Carlton immediately opened his journal and began writing down his goals for his final collegiate season: "Be a Cal legend. Set the sack record. Have fun with my teammates for the last time."

Contained within that journal is a life's-journey worth of words and wisdom. It not only serves as a tool for manifesting his own personal success, but as a guide for others.

"I write down words of the week for myself that I usually share with my teammates on Friday nights," Carlton said. "Last week, that word was basically, 'Conquer.' Conquer who's in front of you. Do your job. Run to the ball and have fun."

Without fail, every week during the season also includes a pair of phone calls from Xavier's parents, Demetrius and Lorraine.

"We talk to Xavier every Friday night to see how he's doing, and he'll be writing in his book," Demetrius said. "We'll also talk to him every Saturday morning before the game to make sure his head is right. There's not one game that's gone by in his career where we haven't done that. It's our ritual."

Growing up in Modesto, Xavier blossomed under the tutelage of his father, who also served as his coach from the age of 6 until he graduated from Juan Diego Catholic in 2020. Looking back with the fondest of memories, Demetrius – who played college football at the University of Utah in the '80s – considers that environment and community to be the perfect place for Xavier to have grown up and developed his love affair with football.

"Modesto was so genuine. Youth sports are huge there. Families build their weekends around it. We woke up and knew it would be football in the morning, we're going to swim, barbecue, eat together, and it'd be more football at night. We had a ball," Demetrius said. "And I'll tell you, Xavier ran that city. Everybody knew his name."

Carlton went on to become a highly-sought, multi-sport athlete, garnering massive attention both as a basketball player and as the No. 12-ranked strong side defensive end in the country. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Miles – who today stands 6-foot-3, 220 pounds at just 14 years old – had also begun making a name for himself as a defensive end prospect.

Despite their bright futures, both brothers would be forced to deal with hardships, something they've been able to face together thanks to their incredibly strong sibling bond.

"I was always that type of kid who people didn't expect to rise to the top. Where it's like, 'We're going to push you aside because we want this other person to start,'" Carlton said. "My brother and I have both gone through a lot of adversity. Sometimes the world tries to tear you down piece by piece to see how you react, but for us, we look at it as a challenge, and we always execute when faced with that challenge."

In addition to feeling overlooked at times as a football player, Xavier's world changed when his mother was diagnosed with cancer during his senior year of high school. Around that time, Lorraine – who, like her husband, is a University of Utah alumni – was transferred by her job back to her previous home state of Utah, moving their family out of California for the first time in 15 years.

To remain close to his family, Carlton committed to Utah and played there for his first two college seasons. After his mother recovered, he took the chance to transfer to the school that had always been his top choice. It's a decision that has not come with regret.

"Cal was always Xavier's first love. But all things considered, fit is everything, and it's the perfect fit for him," Demetrius said. "These last two years, he has definitely stepped out of his comfort zone to try and become more of a vocal leader within the locker room. His mom actually challenged him to say more, and he took that challenge. He's very quiet and he's an introvert, but he is very analytical. He's grown and excelled there not only in football, but also just becoming a man. Who he is, how he operates, and how he leads is a perfect fit for that university and that team."

Carlton has been working toward leaving his legacy at Cal ever since, taking no shortcuts along the way.

By taking care of his body, whether through his consistent use of ice baths and hot tubs, or through the extra emphasis he's placed on stretching and yoga this year, Carlton – who hasn't missed a single game since joining the Bears in 2022 – has been working towards the goal he, his teammates and his weight strength staff created together following last year's Independence Bowl: to become the biggest, fastest and strongest team in the ACC.

"Xavier does things the right way. I'm talking about the stuff that happens Sunday through Friday, not just on Saturday," Demetrius said. "His teammates see him in the weight room working out. They see him in the classroom. They see him doing his homework in the locker room. He lives in that facility. His life is built around the folks who are on that team, they mean the world to him. That's his environment where he wants to be a leader and he wants his name etched in stone someday."

Influenced by one of his favorite movies, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, based on the life of the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, Carlton has told his father that when all is said and done, he wants a movie to be made about his life. While his legacy as a Bear is approaching the home stretch though, it's the legacy he's leaving his family – and more specifically, his brother – that could mean even more.

"My family has always been my rock, each and every day. And what I'm writing – basically, 'The words of greatness' – I'm writing it for my brother," Carlton said. "He looks up to me and I'm trying to be a role model for him, but I look up to him, too. These words are for him, to tell him about my life. It goes beyond football."

Carlton's approach to life has made an impact on his father as well, who was inspired to come up with his own words to live by and push himself every week.

"I'm so happy Xavier has that kind of heart to take his time to develop a 'Bible,' I'll call it, for his little brother," Demetrius said. "Miles doesn't know what's coming or what he's going to do, but Xavier is sharing everything; the good, the bad, the things that were trying for him, that broke him down, how he overcame it, the triumphs, all of it. It's not common that a parent recognizes the gift that your kids give you. I learn from Xavier. Someday, that Bible is going to live in this house and it's going to be passed down to their children. That's all Xavier, and no one else."

As Carlton and the Bears prepare for Saturday's game against Syracuse, he and his teammates will be playing with the words of this week in mind: "Resilience... Be resilient in what you do."

And, while neither his team nor his opponents might expect him to say much on Saturday, Carlton will continue to let his game, his example, and his message speak volumes to everyone he encounters.

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