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Sophomore sensation? South Carolina’s Xavier Legette openly excited about contributing to new offense
By Keith Farner
Published:
South Carolina WR Xavier Legette showed flashes of promise as a freshman last season, and Gamecock fans must hope that it offers some foreshadowing about this season and beyond.
Legette came from a small high school, and played quarterback as a senior, so his transition to wide receiver in the SEC was understandably difficult.
Last year Legette started 3 games and appeared in 11. He caught 9 passes for 80 yards with a touchdown, and had 4 kickoff returns for 113 yards, a 28.2-yard average.
“It was kind of hard coming in,” he told Gamecocks Online. “Playing in the SEC league, it was harder because everybody is good on good, so got to really work to get open.”
The speed of the game was the biggest adjustment for him.
“It was way faster than high school,” he said.
Legette missed some time early in camp this summer with an ankle injury, but is getting back in stride, and hopes to hold on to the opportunity to contribute again in the kickoff return.
Legette also sees a major difference with the new playbook under offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
“With the new playbook, it’s going to be at least two, at least two receivers open,” he said. “Or a tight end. Even the running backs coming out of the backfield. … We’re trying to have a whole lot of (explosive plays) this season.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.