South Carolina’s Xavier Legette made it public that the Carolina Panthers told him that if he’s available, they were drafting him. New GM Dan Morgan and new head coach Dave Canales kept their word. Instead of opening up Day Two of the NFL Draft with the Gamecock, the Panthers traded up one spot to grab him and have the fifth-year option that comes with first round selections.
Legette contributed at wide receiver and on special teams and started 32 of 53 games over his five year career in Columbia. His 113 career receptions rank in the top 15 in school history. He had a breakout senior season, logging 71 receptions for 1,255 yards, and seven receiving touchdowns as he emerged into one of the nation’s best receivers. His 1,255 receiving yards was the second-highest single-season mark in
school history. as he became the fifth player in school history to eclipse the 1,000 yards receiving mark
in a single season.
His “super senior” year saw Legette rack up accolades including the 2023 Blanchard–Rogers Trophy and he was named to the 2023 Senior Bowl All–American Team. He joins a Carolina position group that was severely lacking a season ago. The selection is just the latest in a focused effort to add playmakers around second-year quarterback Bryce Young and resuscitate an offense that finished last in the league last season.
