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WATCH: Xavier Legette hits second-longest kickoff return in school history, taunts Texas A&M

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•10/22/22

The South Carolina fan base is clearly hungry for a win over Texas A&M. Coming into Saturday night’s game they were 0-8 against the Aggies. An electric crowd in Columbia, South Carolina reached a deafening roar on Saturday night, after Xavier Legette returned the opening kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown against the Aggies. He appeared to be bottled up on the right sideline sideline, broke a few tackles, and then decided to hit the Aggie defenders with a peace sign as he raced his way to the end zone, much to the delight of the Gamecock faithful in attendance.

Check it out.

The kickoff return was the second-longest kickoff return in school history. It’s the first kick return for a touchdown for the Gamecocks, since Deebo Samuel did it against Ole Miss during the 2018 season.

He displayed his explosive ability as a kick returner during his freshman season in 2019, when he had four kick returns for 113 yards–a 28.2-yard average. Legette also hauled in nine catches for 80 receiving yards that season. Standing at 6-foot-3, 220-pounds, the versatile athlete has performed a variety of roles for the Gamecocks over the years.

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Last year, Legette played in 11 games for the Gamecocks, hauling in eight passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. He hauled in the game-winning touchdown catch–a nine-yard catch with 37 seconds remaining in a 21-20 win over Vanderbilt.

After the kick return on Saturday night, South Carolina nearly had a pick-six when Darius Rush returned an interception 63-yards down the left sideline all the way down to the three-yard line. The Gamecocks had to settle for a field goal and that put them up 10-0. Then, South Carolina recovered a Texas A&M fumble, drove the football down the field, and punched in another touchdown go take a commanding 17-0 lead early in the first quarter. After the first quarter wrapped up, the Gamecocks led 17-3.

The game is being televised on the SEC Network.