Pros, cons of Carolina Panthers picking South Carolina football’s Xavier Legette in 2024 NFL Draft

COLUMBIA —  Xavier Legette from South Carolina football is officially an NFL rookie after being picked No. 32 by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday.

Here's what Xavier Legette brings to the Panthers, based on our own observations from his tenure at South Carolina:

What Xavier Legette brings to the Carolina Panthers in 2024 NFL Draft

Legette brings size and athleticism to the wide receiver position, he is 6-foot-1, 221 pounds and utilizes his strength well. He ran a 4.4 40-yard dash, showcasing his impressive speed. Legette came into his own in his senior year at South Carolina, becoming Spencer Rattler's main receiver. He contributed on special teams, which widened his abilities after proving he can return punts. Legette wins one-on-one matchups with his hands, his body separation and use of arm length and strength. He played all five years at South Carolina, displaying his dedication to improving overtime and developing into a program.

Xavier Legette's highlights, strengths, weaknesses at South Carolina football

Legette returned a 100-yard punt return against Texas A&M in 2022, showcasing his ability to escape defenders and pressure in his senior season that developed full force in his fifth year. In November against Jacksonville State, Legette had nine receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He has good ball security and can extend his hands in a timely fashion for late chance catches. He is one of the bigger wide receivers in this year's draft class and uses his body to his full advantage. He accelerates nicely which creates vertical separation. He’s versatile and exceeded both in the slot and out wide, and he locates the ball well in the air.

His weakness is his traditional route running and not always using his speed productively. He has a consistency to rush through routes instead of faking defenders fully and struggled at times against tight man coverage, especially with his subpar footwork.

Xavier Legette's stats at South Carolina football

• 113 receptions
• 1678 yards
• 12 touchdowns
• 29 kick returns
• 12 rushing yards

Xavier Legette player comparison (or potential) in NFL

The key to Legette's success in college was largely attributed to his size and strength so it will be interesting to see how he does in the NFL matched up against much bigger cornerbacks, defenders than he faced at 19, 20-years old in college. Legette could become a player like Hakeem Nicks or Dwayne Bowe, who he nearly mirrors in size (Bowe at 6-2, 221) if he continues to use his strength and size at the next level.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin