Former South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette was not even in the NFL Draft rader through his first four seasons with the Gamecocks.
The 6-foot-1 wide receiver caught all of 42 passes and five touchdowns during that span. He also missed parts of the 2020 and 2021 campaign to injuries.
It was not a great start to his career in South Carolina after being a four-star recruit in the Class of 2019. That included a motorcycle accident contributing to some of the wide receiver’s time away from the game.
However, something clicked for Legette after being granted a fifth season of eligibility. He absolutely dominated SEC defenses in catching passes from fellow 2024 NFL Draft prospect Spencer Rattler this past season.
This performance coupled with a great pre-draft process has led to speculation that Legette could very well be a first-round pick when the draft gets going on Thursday from Detroit.
NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero talked to executives, scouts and coaches around the league over the past several weeks. Legette’s name continues to pop up as a potential surprise pick.
“An impressive combine performance — including a 4.39-second 40 time and 40-inch vertical at 6-1, 221 pounds — put Legette in the conversation of this draft’s risers,” Pelissero noted. “And while some NFL scouts and coaches aren’t sold after just one year of production for the Gamecocks, Legette’s athletic ability alone could entice a team to take him Thursday night.”
Related: Final 2024 NFL mock draft
The better news for this fast riser is the fact that there are a number of teams selecting later in the first round with obvious needs at wide receiver.