Taft School’s Xavier Hairston Voted High School on SI’s Top Running Back in Connecticut

Hairston, a Class of 2028 student-athlete, transferred from Plainville to The Taft School

Taft School Athletics

Xavier Hairston, a Class of 2028 transfer at The Taft School, has been voted High School on SI’s top running back in Connecticut heading into the 2025 season.

Hairston received 47.33% of the votes to take the top spot. Final poll results can be viewed here.

A sophomore, Hairston transferred from Plainville to The Taft School and reclassified to 2028. Last season, he ran for 1,307 yards and 15 touchdowns on 215 carries. Hairston had 1,760 all-purpose yards and 18 total scores, as well.

The Rhinos open their 2025 campaign against Cheshire Academy on Friday.

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Published Sep 11, 2025

KEVIN L. SMITH

Kevin L. Smith, a Rochester (NY) native and a graduate of St. Bonaventure University, has been covering high school sports for over a decade. He started out as a freelance sportswriter in 2013. Since then, he’s held sportswriter and editor positions for newspapers in Coudersport (PA), Sayre (PA) and Oswego (NY). Smith currently covers high school sports in the Greater Syracuse Area for syracuse.com | Post-Standard, a position he’s held since 2021. You can follow him on social media @KevLSmittie. Story ideas can be sent to KLSFreelancing@outlook.com.

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