The challenge Joe Cox gave to one Gamecock in a crucial spot
A lot rests on Xavier Legette’s shoulders, and Joe Cox let him know it.
Legette is a second-year receiver for South Carolina football team. Cox is his first-year position coach. Legette went from almost grayshirting to starting games late last season as the USC receiver group was whittled down by injuries.
Now the talented sophomore will be counted on for something else. He’s in line to start, and if transfer Jalen Brooks doesn’t get an NCAA waiver, Legette is likely the team’s top big receiver. So Cox has given him a challenge.
“He’s probably been one of the guys I’ve challenged the most in the room because he has to play with a different mentality than everybody else,” Cox said in a video interview with the school’s sports information department. “With his frame and what we’re asking him to do, he’s going to play against a lot of team’s best DBs, their most physical DB and he’s got to be the guy who can make the contested catches, move the chains and make big plays, too. He’s being asked to do a lot of different things and he’s done a great job of rising to that challenge so far.”
Legette only caught nine passes last season. He played quarterback his last year of high school and came in with tools such as height and speed, but needed to refine them (passing games at smaller schools often don’t ask receivers to do the widest range of things).
If Brooks gets that waiver, it gives the Gamecocks a pair of tall options on the outside with Shi Smith inside. If not, it might put Smith, listed 5-foot-10, on the outside as well.
Cox is no stranger to being part of staffs that developed underrated recruits. The Colorado State teams he was part of regularly turned out NFL level talent, and though he mostly worked with tight ends, Cox did move over at wide receiver in time to help Warren Jackson and Dante Wright both blossom in 2019.
Power legs
The Gamecocks can say they’ve put a special teamer into the NFL as punter Joseph Charlton is starting for the Carolina Panthers.
But that means South Carolina now has to replace a top-flight leg.
In a video interview with the school’s sports information department, special teams coordinator Kyle Krantz gave an update on the punting situation.
“Kai (Kroeger) and Christian Kinsley have both really competed hard through camp,” Krantz said. “Both of them bring different things to the table and we’re really excited about how they both have done.”
Kroeger has been considered the favorite at the spot for much of the preseason.
Other practice tidbits:
▪ In a school release, Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said Tuesday’s practice was used to clean up a few things they didn’t get to during training camp.
▪ During in-season practices there will be less scout team work to deal prep more players in case of attrition because of COVID-19.
