2024 Rookie Profile: WR Xavier Legette (Fantasy Football)

Welcome to one of the most enigmatic rookie profiles in the entire 2024 NFL Draft class. It is exceedingly rare, if not completely unprecedented, for a prospect to transition from multiple seasons of limited production to sudden stardom as a fifth-year senior. However, not all prospects are like the legend that is South Carolina’s Xavier Legette. Despite four years of mediocrity, Legette boasts a captivating athletic profile that finally translated into commendable production in his final year with the program. Join us as we delve into Legette’s mysterious rookie profile, navigating potential red flags in search of hidden treasure that can hopefully translate to the next level.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Rookie Profile series going on until the 2024 NFL Draft. For more on each rookie, check out Andy, Mike, and Jason’s exclusive rookie rankings and the production profiles found only in the Dynasty Pass, part of the UDK+ for 2024.

College Production Profile

Hailing from Mullins High School in South Carolina, Legette was a three-star recruit prior to committing to the University of South Carolina. In high school, he stood out as an impressive multisport athlete, excelling in baseball, basketball, and football. Initially recognized for his prowess as a wide receiver, Legette transitioned into a dual-threat quarterback during his senior year, showcasing his versatility by running for over 1,800 rushing yards and nearly 20 rushing touchdowns. These standout achievements underscore Legette’s exceptional athleticism and highlight how dangerous he can be with the ball in his hands. 

Despite his accomplishments at the high school level, Legette struggled to make an impact as a true freshman with the Gamecocks. While this is a common experience for incoming high school players, his production remained minimal throughout his first four years with the program. Despite appearing in 41 games and starting 17 of them during this time, Legette amassed just 42 receptions for 423 yards and five touchdowns. Typically, four years mark the end of a college athlete’s career, and for Legette, such limited production would likely have spelled the end of his football journey. Fortunately, due to COVID-related rules established in 2020, Legette was granted eligibility for one more season with the program. This proved to be a true turning point, as Legette elevated himself from an underachieving collegiate wide receiver into one of the most prolific players in the nation.

Whether Legette found a magical bean or was granted a wish from a genie in a bottle, something truly remarkable happened to him before the 2023 season. Despite having never received 30 or more targets or producing over 200 receiving yards in any of the four seasons prior, Legette emerged as the focal point of South Carolina’s offense, becoming a formidable force. Remarkably, he accumulated more receiving yards in the first four games of the 2023 season than he had in the previous four seasons combined. By season’s end, he amassed 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns, earning him second-team all-SEC honors. Additionally, his impressive average of 17.7 yards per reception underscored his knack for big plays. Undergoing a complete transformation, Legette has evolved from an unknown prospect to one of the most polarizing wide receivers in the class.

2023 Season Per Game AVG:

• Receptions: 5.9
• Receiving Yards: 104.6
• Receiving TDs: 0.6

2023 Season Metrics:

• Average Depth of Target (aDOT): 13.8
• Drop Rate: 2.06%
• Target Rate vs. Zone: 23.3%
• Yards per Route Run vs. Zone: 2.91
• Target Rate vs. Man: 26.9%
• Yards per Route vs. Man: 4.04 (BEST IN THE CLASS)
• Yards per Team Pass Attempt: 3.05
• Contested Catch Rate: 43%
• Yards per Reception Average: 17.7

Measurements

Amid speculation that he might have been taller, Legette’s measurements at the NFL Combine revealed him to be 6’1″ and 221 lbs. At this stature, he possesses the versatility to excel both on the perimeter and in the slot, roles he has become accustomed to during his time at South Carolina. In 2023, Legette showcased his multi-faceted skillset with 268 snaps out wide and 141 snaps in the slot. While he is nowhere near the caliber of player that AJ Brown currently is, Legette shares an eerily similar physical and athletic profile to him. The hope is for Legette to advance as a more nuanced and refined player, solidifying the authenticity of his standout performance in 2023. However, a significant concern surrounding Legette as a prospect is his remarkably late breakout age of 22.6.

Currently a couple of months over 23 years old, Legette stands notably older for an incoming rookie, largely due to an extra year of college. While wide receivers generally enjoy longer careers compared to running backs, his age remains a concern. According to Marvin Elequin’s article The Dynasty Lifecycle of Wide Receivers, NFL wideouts typically break out between the ages of 22 and 23, with approximately 43% falling within that range. Notably, Legette, at 23, represents the age bracket with the highest concentration of NFL breakout occurrences (25%). This disparity is concerning, especially considering that he has yet to be drafted by an NFL team. Typically, it is crucial for a wide receiver to exhibit signs of a significant breakout within their first two professional seasons, a pressure that feels amplified for Legette given his advanced age upon entering the league. 

Legette emerged as one of the standout wide receivers during the NFL Combine, capturing attention and potentially elevating his draft stock. Demonstrating excellence across various measurable categories and tests, Legette attained an extremely impressive Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.92, ranking 24th among wide receivers since the inception of the RAS system in 1987. Notably, his 40-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds was particularly striking given his physical stature. When coupled with his elite explosiveness, exemplified by his 40-inch vertical leap, Legette presents an enticing combination of size and athleticism, ideal for a deep-ball receiver.

Xavier Legette is a WR prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.92 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 24 out of 3063 WR from 1987 to 2024.

Splits Projectedhttps://t.co/mhRpjR2bdC pic.twitter.com/0kP12WFfpF

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2024

What’s on Tape

1. Elite Long Speed

Legette boasts an exceptionally rare blend of imposing size and long speed. Despite his robust build, his ability to accelerate to an elite top speed defies expectations. In fact, he hit a top speed of 22.3 miles per hour on a play last season, which would have ranked top five in the NFL on the year. Without getting carried away, physical comparisons to athletic freaks like DK Metcalf and AJ Brown are warranted, given his similar build and athletic traits. This was vividly evident in a standout performance where he notched two touchdowns of 75 yards or more, contributing to a stellar five-catch, 189-yard game against Mississippi State. Few players possess the elusive combination of skills required to consistently make explosive plays, and Legette undoubtedly belongs to that elite category of athlete.

2. Ability to Win Contested Catch Opportunities

While Legette is renowned for his dominance with the ball in his hands, his abilities while the ball is still in the air are equally impressive. During his final year at South Carolina, he showcased exceptional ball tracking skills, complemented by explosive athleticism, including a 40-inch vertical leap. His speed allows him to outpace defenders, yet he also demonstrates the agility to adjust his route and make plays on underthrown balls. Despite having slightly undersized hands for his position, Legette compensates with remarkable strength and the ability to high point catches, evident in him only dropping two passes on 97 targets in 2023. However, it is worth noting that he only converted on 43% of his contested targets in 2023, suggesting room for improvement in consistently defeating defenders at the catch point.

3. Positional Versatility

Despite excelling on the outside, Legette’s versatility allowed him to effectively contribute from the slot during his college career. Remarkably, he logged 25.6% of his snaps in the slot, tallying 443 receiving yards in 2023 alone, accounting for 35% of his production. This adaptability hints at his potential as a “big-slot” wide receiver in the NFL, a role where players like CeeDee Lamb have flourished as fantasy assets. While Legette may not reach Lamb’s elite status, the blueprint for fantasy football success at the next level is evident if utilized in this role.

4. Physical Blocker

Given his imposing size and dominant physical presence, it is no wonder that Legette has shown immense potential as a blocker. His exceptionally strong lower body enables him to forcefully move defenders out of the lane, while his adept hand usage and placement further enhance his effectiveness. Although blocking statistics do not directly impact fantasy football, Legette’s proficiency in this area will undoubtedly contribute to his ability to remain on the field for the majority of snaps, bolstering his overall value to his team.

What’s Not on Tape

1. Diverse Route Tree

Despite showcasing remarkable positional versatility and possessing an elite athletic profile, Legette’s route running falls short compared to other prospects in this year’s class. His route tree is limited, and his footwork lacks polish when initiating routes, often relying on athleticism rather than technical precision to beat defenders. While this approach yielded success last season, it is important to note that he was literally a man amongst boys during his fifth year. As he transitions to the NFL, facing more formidable and physically comparable defenders, improving his route running will be crucial. There is legitimate cause to question whether he can maintain his level of dominance against higher-caliber competition at the professional level.

2. Ability to Separate/Slow Release

While Legette possesses exceptional long speed, his initial burst off the line of scrimmage appears below average. He resembles a bowling ball slowly gathering momentum down a hill, taking some time to accelerate before reaching full speed. While this gradual acceleration makes him a formidable threat on go routes, it hinders his ability to outmaneuver defenders on shorter and intermediate routes. His deficiency in initial burst also affects his effectiveness against zone coverage schemes, commonly employed by NFL defenses.

3. Career Consistency

Evaluating Legette as a prospect is challenging due to his unusual lack of consistency throughout his collegiate career. After virtually invisible statistics in his first four years, he emerged as one of the country’s most intriguing prospects with an additional year of eligibility. It is worth noting that Legette displayed flashes of potential in his initial years with the program despite the lack of statistical evidence. However, he faced the added challenge of working under three different offensive coordinators, two head coaches, and a rotating cast of quarterbacks until Spencer Rattler’s arrival. Moreover, he confronted significant personal and familial challenges that could have potentially impeded his performance on the field. While this does not excuse his enigmatic production profile entirely, it potentially offers some insight into the factors contributing to his inconsistency over his college career.

Fantasy Outlook

Assessing whether Legette is a late bloomer or a bad seed presents a formidable challenge. Despite possessing several intriguing traits as a prospect, it is difficult to overlook the numerous red flags surrounding him. His unique production profile, combined with his exceptional athleticism, prompts consideration of two divergent paths. In one scenario, Legette seamlessly transitions his dominance from his fifth year into the NFL, garnering significant draft capital and recognition of his immense potential. With his imposing size and elite athletic abilities, his ceiling could rival that of players like AJ Brown or DK Metcalf. However, even in this optimistic scenario, it is highly unlikely that Legette will reach the WR1 status of either player in fantasy football.

Nevertheless, his boom-or-bust potential is undeniable, with the capability to deliver home run plays and outrun an entire field of defenders. While comparing him to superstars like Brown or Metcalf may be overly ambitious, a more realistic ceiling comparison for Legette could be a player like Mike Williams, albeit shorter but faster. Like Legette, Williams possesses freakish athleticism and poses a constant vertical threat when healthy. Due to his reliance on splash plays, Williams has developed a reputation for disappearing when unable to capitalize on such opportunities during games.

While optimistic scenarios envisioning Legette’s success at the next level are plausible due to his impressive athletic traits, a more cautiously pessimistic outlook may be more realistic. His late breakout age and lack of significant production until his fifth year of college suggest he would need to defy historical statistical norms to excel in the NFL. Additionally, Legette has demonstrated difficulties in overcoming zone coverage and struggles as a route separator, raising concerns about his ability to translate his skills to the professional level. Many athletic prospects who rely on their success on contested catches in college have failed to deliver in the pros, and Legette could easily follow suit. Recent draft picks like Quentin Johnston or Jonathan Mingo serve as cautionary examples of this scenario. Furthermore, Legette’s age of 23 may diminish his appeal in dynasty leagues compared to younger prospects in the draft class.

Given the plethora of red flags in his profile, Legette’s immediate fantasy success as a rookie hinges heavily on his draft capital and landing spot. While he undeniably boasts exceptional athleticism and enjoyed a highly productive final collegiate season, he falls short of being a can’t-miss prospect. If an NFL team values him highly enough to invest first-round draft capital, his intrigue level would soar in both dynasty and redraft leagues. While not all first-round picks pan out in the NFL, statistics indicate a significantly higher success rate. Depending on his draft position and location, Legette could merit consideration as a late first-round pick in rookie drafts for dynasty leagues. However, if he is selected on day two, he may appear slightly less enticing, making it challenging to justify a first-round selection in rookie drafts. While Legette still possesses the potential to become a standout player, being a day-two pick adds another red flag to his already checkered profile.

Ultimately, the decision to add Legette to your dynasty team hinges on whether you believe he can defy historical norms as an outlier or if his final year of college was more of an anomaly than a repeatable occurrence. It is possible that his mysterious 2023 season was akin to a Cinderella story, destined to fade away once the clock strikes midnight, relegating him to being just another guy (JAG). Conversely, his enigmatic rise could signal the dawn of a remarkable NFL career, as he continues to defy expectations and chart his path to success at the next level.

For more information on wide receivers, here is a must-read article on Dynasty WR Thresholds That Matter, written by Kyle Borgognoni.