South Carolina Football: ESPN NFL Draft analyst puts Gamecock in 2-round mock draft

South Carolina football fans know that Xavier Legette is a special player.

In addition to being one of the fastest receivers in this year's NFL draft, Legette also should intrigue organizations with his strength on the field (he weighed in over 220 pounds at his pro day and showed elite tackle-breaking ability with the Gamecocks) and his strength off the field (he persevered through the loss of both parents and horrible struggles with the mental side of the game and drops).

After four years of being a virtual afterthought to many, Legette burst onto the scene in 2023 as one of the top wide receivers in the country as he established himself as one of the greatest receivers in South Carolina football history despite just one year of high-level production. That production and his athletic potential have put him front and center in many NFL Draft discussions this offseason.

In his most recent NFL Draft projection, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Field Yates put Legette at the beginning of the 2nd round, mocking him to the New England Patriots with the 34th overall pick in the draft.

In their first year without Bill Belichick at the helm since 1999, the Patriots and new head coach Jerod Mayo need lots of help across the roster, and one of their weakest position groups is in the wide receiver room. Legette also would help out New England on special teams as his abilities as a kickoff returner and a punt/kickoff coverage gunner will make him a valuable asset to an NFL team.

If Yates' mock draft proves to be accurate, Legette would be the 7th wide receiver taken, only behind Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, Brian Thomas Jr., AD Mitchell, and Xavier Worthy.

Gamecock quarterback Spencer Rattler was not included in Yates' top-64. He has been all over mock NFL Drafts this offseason, seeing his name appear anywhere from the 1st round to the 6th round with most of the projections seeing him taken in the 3rd round.