Xavier Legette

* 2022 Gamecocks’ Toughness Award – Offense
* 2020 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
* 2019-20 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

Veteran athletic player who hopes a big performance in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl propels him to a breakout season in 2023… contributes both at wide receiver and on special teams… bigger body who has big play capabilities… has appeared in 41 games with 20 career starts… has 42 career receptions for 423 yards with five receiving touchdowns and one kickoff return for a score… set a school record with a 29.4-yard average on 15 kickoff returns in 2022 and is averaging 29.2-yards on 19 returns in his career, one return shy of qualifying for the school record held by Deebo Samuel at 29.0.

2022 (Senior)
Played in all 13 games, making seven starts… caught 18 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns, rushed seven times for 21 yards and returned 15 kicks for 441 yards, a school-record 29.4-yard average (15 returns minimum) with one touchdown… took the opening kick against Texas A&M 100 yards for a touchdown… it tied for the second-longest return in school history and was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by a Gamecock since Deebo Samuel went the distance at Ole Miss in 2018… earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades for his performance… logged kickoff returns of 32- and 31-yards against Charlotte and Arkansas, respectively… caught two passes for 33 yards and a score at Vanderbilt, while also rushing twice for a career-high 28 yards… recorded a pair of catches against Georgia, Missouri and Florida… had the best game of his career in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Notre Dame when he caught a career-high seven passes for a career-high 78 yards with two touchdowns, including an incredible 42-yard TD reception… had a huge spring, earning the Gamecocks’ Toughness Award for the offense.

2021 (Junior)
Played in 11 games, making four starts… caught eight passes for 63 yards and a touchdown… missed some time during the season after being injured in an off-the-field accident… hauled in the game-winning touchdown, a nine-yard reception, with 37 seconds remaining in a 21-20 win vs. Vanderbilt… started the game and finished with four catches for 31 yards in his first significant action of the season… had a crucial 20-yard catch on a third down conversion in the second half of a 21-17 win vs. Auburn.

2020 (Sophomore)
Second-year receiver who appeared in six games, all starts… started the first six contests before injuries sidelined him for the final four games… caught seven passes for 113 yards, an average of 16.1 per catch… best game came in the season opener against Tennessee when he grabbed four passes for a career-high 61 yards, including a career-long 42-yard reception… had a pair of catches for 30 yards at Vanderbilt… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2019 (Freshman)
True freshman who saw action in 11 games on special teams and at wide receiver… did not play in the season finale vs. Clemson… caught nine passes for 80 yards with a touchdown… also credited with four kickoff returns for 113 yards, a 28.2-yard average… started three contests, getting the nod against Vanderbilt, Appalachian State and Texas A&M… logged his first reception against Kentucky… made his first start against Vanderbilt and logged three catches for 34 yards, including a career-long 20-yard touchdown reception… also handled kickoff return duties for the first time in that contest… had his best game against Appalachian State when he recorded career highs with five receptions for 42 yards… made an impact on special teams at Texas A&M with two kickoff returns for 74 yards, including a career-long of 50 yards… named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Mullins (S.C.) High School in 2019… played quarterback as a senior, rushing for 1,826 yards and 19 touchdowns, while passing for 887 yards and 14 scores… led the Auctioneers to an 8-2 record in 2018 and a berth in the second round of the AA state playoffs… coached by John Williams… one of three finalists for the 2018 WPDE Zoneman Trophy… as a sophomore in 2016, caught 44 passes for 733 yards and eight touchdowns… also played baseball and basketball… was considered the 10th-best prospect in the state of South Carolina, rated the 40th-best “athlete” in the country and number 709 overall, according to 247Sports Composite.

PERSONAL
Anthony Xavier Legette was born Jan. 29, 2001… earned a degree in sport and entertainment management.