Dabo Swinney had high praise for Xavier Legette ahead of Clemson’s matchup with South Carolina on Saturday.

The in-state star has emerged as one of the top receivers in the SEC, recording 1,187 yards and 7 touchdowns on the year. For Swinney, Legette is an example of the importance of player development.

“I think he’s developed incredibly well, he’s gonna be a big-time pro,” Swinney said in his press conference Tuesday. “He’s a great reminder to everybody that this is a developmental game. That’s just the way it is. That’s what I hate about this world that we operate in now and the world of college athletics, should not be that way. But with the intensity of recruiting and everybody’s just knows everything, and talks about everything and evaluates and scrutinizes everything. If kids aren’t great players as freshmen, it’s like they stink. It’s such a bad mindset. It really is.”

Legette had a slow start to his career, but now the work is paying off with his breakout season.

“I think Legette is a perfect example of that,” Swinney said. “He’s put the work in, gotten better, obviously he’s been well coached. He’s put the work in in the film room, the weight room, next thing you know his confidence grows.”

Andrew Peters