The most thrilling two minutes in sports just got a little more southern! A little more South Carolinian, to be exact.
As the 151st Kentucky Derby lit up Churchill Downs on Saturday with big names and bold fashion, Gamecock fans had a lot to smile about. Bringing his own fashion, flavor, and fun to the festivities was former South Carolina Gamecock and Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette.
Legette, who is headed into his second year with the Panthers, has an undeniable love for horses, especially racehorses. From making plays on field to taking care of his own quarter horse, Dolla Bill, Legette has become one of the most unexpected and beloved players in the NFL. So, when the League needed someone on the field, or track, at Churchill Downs, the pick was a winner!
Hailing from Mullins, South Carolina, the former Gamecock arrived in Louisville earlier in the week, and it did not take long for him to start turning heads. While he kept it to theme, his getup was a mix of country roots meets designer labels. On Friday, Legette connected with ESPN's Marty Smith for a conversation full of classic Legette charm.
Legette, who is known for his brave culinary taste, also tried the 24K gold bacon (yes, gold bacon) at the races. After taking a few bites, he immediately wanted to ship some of the bacon back to his hometown.
Last season, Legette brought some raccon cuisine to the locker room for his taemmates to try. It made such an impact that renown chef Guy Fieri tried to get the recipe out of Legette on the red carpet on Saturday, but the WR wouldn't budge. “My people back home wouldn’t forgive me if I gave that up,” he joked.
From locker room cookouts to race day couture, Xavier Legette showed the world that you can bring South Carolina swagger to any stage. Whether it's football or fashion, Legette certainly knows how to put on a show!