South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette is the most physical wideout in the 2024 NFL Draft. Legette is a first-round pick with elite athleticism who ran a 4.39 40 at the NFL Combine at 221 pounds. Legette, who produced 1,255 receiving yards this season, also had a 40-inch vertical and 10-foot-6 broad jump.
Legette recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network while discussing his new partnership with Six Star Protein Shake and their new Kellogg’s Froot Loops flavor. Legette also touched on his pre-draft visits, the art of route-running, blocking for an NFL offense, and more.
JM: Your pre-draft workouts have been fueled by the new Six Star Protein Shake in Kellogg's Froot Loops flavor. The flavor is available exclusively at Sam’s Club locations throughout the United States. How have they spearheaded your workouts?
Xavier Legette: It’s been great to grab the new Six Star Froot Loops flavor after my workouts. It’s helped me a bunch with my recovery.
JM: What tangible differences have you noticed since using Six Star’s Kellogg's Froot Loops protein shake flavor?
Xavier Legette: I’m definitely experiencing way less pains and aches after my workouts. It’s completely transformed my recovery.
JM: It’s shown through the results. You put forth an outstanding performance at the NFL Combine. You ran a 4.39 40 at 221 pounds. You also had a 40-inch vertical and 10-foot-6 broad. Were you satisfied with the overall performance?
Xavier Legette: The 10-foot-6 broad, I could have done better than that (laughs). Everything else was right on the money though. I was very satisfied with every other result.
JM: We love hearing that. You're such a physical route runner. You're dynamic after the catch. You might be the best run-after-catch receiver in this draft. You never want one defender to tackle you. Where does that mentality come from?
Xavier Legette: I’ve had that mentality ever since I was a little kid. Ever since I’ve been playing football, I’ve been the same way and had the same approach. Growing up playing the way we did in South Carolina, you had to be tough and physical from a young age. The first man can’t tackle you. You need to have that mentality. I’ve carried that with me throughout my career.
JM: You're also such a physical route-runner versus man and zone coverage that I want to put you in a scenario. Say it's 3rd-and-long with the game on the line. Would you rather be manned up versus a boundary or nickel corner, or facing zone defense where you could find a soft spot to sit down in?
Xavier Legette: If it’s 3rd-and-long, we’re going for the deep ball (laughs). I’m running a go. I need that to be man coverage. All you have to do is throw the rock up to me and I’m going to come down with it. I dominate man coverage.
JM: I love that. Do you approach bigger cornerbacks differently than you do smaller cornerbacks in situations like that one?
Xavier Legette: No, it doesn’t really matter to me. I have a fine line of understanding though. The bigger cornerbacks, they never move as well as the smaller ones. That helps me take a different approach.
JM: Have you made any 30 Pre-draft visits to teams throughout this process? Do you have more on the schedule? I believe I saw a few of them on social media.
Xavier Legette: I went on 14 visits altogether. I haven’t been home very much. I went to the Texans, Pittsburgh, Chiefs, Chargers, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Eagles, San Francisco, Detroit, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Green Bay, and the Broncos. I’ve been a little bit everywhere (laughs).
JM: Wow. Have you enjoyed touring the country like that? It was probably the first time you’ve seen some of those places.
Xavier Legette: That was probably the best part, going to different cities and seeing what their towns look like. I loved every single one of them. I enjoyed getting a feel for those different places just in case I end up getting drafted there.
JM: Are you breaking down tape with teams on these visits? If so, what’s their biggest takeaway from your South Carolina tape? I bet that's led to some good conversations.
Xavier Legette: Their biggest takeaway has been my ability to high-point the football. Teams are impressed with my ability to climb the ladder and go get it. I turn those 50-50 balls into my ball. Everybody sees me being versatile enough to move me around their formations as well.
JM: You dominated those situations on tape. Speaking of, what do you feel are the most important traits of route-running?
Xavier Legette: I would just say the ability to create separation. That’s really the main one. As long as you create separation, the ball is coming your way. You’re not going to see the ball if you’re not open.
JM: You’re a great run blocker as well. You had to block in that South Carolina offense.
Xavier Legette: Our mentality at South Carolina, you have to be fast, strong, and physical. That’s the way it works in coach [offensive coordinator] Dowell Loggains’ offense. Physicality was the main thing we were looking for. We built our program on physicality. As long as you’re physical, you’re getting on the field for South Carolina. Me being a good run blocker was more important than me getting the ball. That’s how I saw it.
JM: That’s the truth right there. We've appreciated your time today. This has been outstanding. What kind of impact is Xavier Legette going to make at the next level?
Xavier Legette: I want to make a huge impact for as long as I can play to the best of my abilities. I’m going to stay ahead of things and take great care of my body so I can prevent injuries. I’m going to have a very successful time in the league.
