South Carolina football wide receiver Xavier Legette was taken with the 32nd pick of the NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. The pick came after a draft day trade with the Kansas City Chiefs netted the Bills the final pick of the 1st round and then the Bills dealt the pick to the Panthers.
You can watch Legette and his family's reaction to being taken by the hometown Panthers here.
While there was a lot of discontent among Buffalo Bills fans as they traded back from picks that became Xavier Worth and Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers fans are overjoyed with how things turned out for their favorite team, and those around the football world also loved the selection.
It was always Xavier Legette.
— Evan (@PanthersEvan) April 26, 2024
Welcome to Carolina. We got a DAWG
My lord did Bryce Young need this. Xavier Legette is going to be a monster for Carolina @GarnetNCocky pic.twitter.com/B9MA8ZQadX
— Josh Yourish (@JYourish3) April 26, 2024
The @Panthers traded back into the First round to select Xavier Leggette with the 32nd pick!@gamecockfb x @XavierLegette pic.twitter.com/1U717uAoCa
— The Carolina Faithful (@cockyfaithful) April 26, 2024
The Panthers land Xavier Legette, who has an incredible combination of power, explosion, speed and run after catch.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 26, 2024
He was a big play waiting to happen last season.
A huge boost for Bryce Young and the Carolina offense. pic.twitter.com/0Hi4Efhrty
So happy for the #Panthers, so happy for Xavier Legette.
— RP (@BreakinDownFilm) April 26, 2024
The Panthers got a superstar. A phenomenal character; incredible hard worker. He’s a coaches dream.
Xavier has had such a rough journey. Hope he enjoys every second of this. He’s earned it. ❤️
The positive reception to Legette's selection is no surprise to South Carolina football fans. #17 was one of the most dynamic players in all of college football this past season as he put up 1255 yards in 12 games (while missing about a game and a half with minor injuries). His top-end speed (4.39 40-yard dash), leaping ability (40" vertical), and YAC potential (220 pounds), gives Legette the type of flexibility that will allow him to play any role the klsjfksdfj need him to play.
XL is also a high-effort player who will do anything that his team needs him to do to win. At South Carolina, he was an elite special teams player. A kickoff return touchdown against Texas A&M in 2022 showed off his ability with the ball in his hands, and he was an even better gunner on kick coverage units as he routinely was the first man downfield to make a tackle or down a punt deep in opposing territory.
It won't take long at all for the Mullins, South Carolina native to become a fan favorite with the Panthers, especially with the huge overlap in fandoms between the Carolina Panthers and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Legette's thick country accent won't be out of place as he stays in the South, and his infectious personality, love for football, and on-field production will make him a star sooner rather than later.