Q. Hey Xavier, welcome back to the Carolinas again, man. Congratulations first of all. First round pick. I spoke with your coach last week, Shane Beamer, from South Carolina. Had a lot to say about your physicality, the element you bring of physicality to the football field, what you brought there, about 20 yards a catch. Talk about that and being honored by the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame last week. How special is it to stay in the Carolinas?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man, very special, man. I'm blessed to be able to get that award. Man, I just -- and then like going back to what you said about Coach and about physicality, man, it's a grown man game and I feel as I'm a grown man. I'm playing against a whole lot of grown men myself. I'm going to bring that fire to the field.
Q. Xavier, I know you expected the Panthers to draft you. Were you surprised that they traded up for you? What were those minutes like wondering if they would be one the that would pick and you if you would go in the first rounds?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man, I didn't know what to expect. I was just waiting to hear my name called, and once they called me, they was cheering for me, man. There was a whole lot of joy.
Q. Wondering if you've gone back -- once you started meeting with the Panthers and thought this might be a possibly, how much have you gone back and watched with Bryce Young did last year, Dave Canales did at Tampa Bay last year and thought about how you could be implemented?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man, really, ma'am, I haven't watched any of those guys' games, but I know what I feel like I can bring to the team. I just say, man, being able to have the ability for them to move me around within the offense and them moving me around as special teams as well, I feel like that could bring a whole lot to the team.
Q. Speaking of special teams, Dan Morgan said tonight, especially with the new kickoff rules that's somewhere he could see you possibly contributing. Where do you see yourself fitting in there as well, especially with the new rules?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man, just like you said, he's saying right now, that new rule, man, I feel like it's more easier for the return. As long as I get a crease, find a hole, man, I'm going to out-flank... (indiscernible.)
Q. You are going to join a couple Gamecocks on this team. I'm curious what you think about joining some of your Gamecock brethren, and specifically Jadeveon Clowney, who I'm sure you grew up watching. What's that like?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man it's great, man, every time I go to (indiscernible - regarding Jammie Robinson,) just about every other week, man. Be blessed to be able to get back to play with him. Him and Jaycee Horn. I was there with JC for two years every day.
He part of the reason why I got better. We worked hard every day. Good on good, baby.
Q. What about Clowney specifically?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man, I know he is dog, and one thing I know I'm going to be by his side just to pick his brain and see, man, what can I learn from him.
Q. Congratulations on getting drafted. Dave Canales talked about your ability; he also said there will be a learning curve. What do you think you are going to have to do to bring your skills to the next level and adjust to the Panthers' style of play?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Just lean on to the older guys in the room, pick their brain as well, just to see what tendencies they use to be able to get open in this league. Man, I'm just watching film and studying (indiscernible) as well, just to see what's their flaws, what things they like and what's their weakness you so I can be able to know, okay, going in this game if I get a certain move that will be able to put me open and put me in a better position.
Q. Just how did your time with Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks here in Columbia prepare you for this moment that you've been waiting your whole life for?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man I think this year specifically really help me for the league the most. The reason why I say that is just the way how they implemented me within the offense and being able to move me around.
And then being able to receive the information that they was really putting on me, because I was really asked to do a lot, but it really wasn't a lot. That's how I see it.
So, man, just being able to get that information from them, the way how they was coaching me, I feel like that helped me prepare me to be able to play in this league.
Q. Xavier, congrats. Where are you calling from? Where was your draft party?
XAVIER LEGETTE: I'm in now Mullins, South Carolina.
Q. How many people were there? Who was there that was really special to you? I'm sure everybody. Anyone we might know?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man. I ain't going to say anybody. Most special person here my grandma. My grandma, man, she took me in. My mom (indiscernible), my aunt, two sisters, and my three cousins, they all were here.
Q. Why were you so confident that the Panthers were going to take you?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Just because of meetings that we had. I could feel the love and the vibe coming from them. I knew if it wasn't them I wasn't going to be sure, but I had a good feeling about them.
Q. Xavier, I believe you crossed paths with another first round draft pick from South Carolina here, Jaycee Horn. How close are you with Jaycee? Did you go up against him in practice? Tell me about that.
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, yeah, oh, yeah. Jaycee, like I said, Jaycee part of the reason I became a good player. He's very patient at the line. You can't just do anything on Jaycee, man. Jaycee, like I said, he's a good player and he made me better.
Q. Xavier, congratulations and welcome back to the Carolinas. So you were the seventh wide receiver picked tonight. Talk about where that puts your head at going into this rookie season. What do you look to prove coming into this year?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Oh, man I'm just going out there to play my game and I want to go out there and earn the trust of the coaches be able to get on the field.
That's all I'm worrying about, man. I ain't worrying about where I got picked at. As long as I got picked, I'm happy.
Q. Obviously you're from Mullins. You went to South Carolina. Just how important was it for you or how good is it for you to stay in the Carolinas and play? What was the reaction from your family when you got selected?
XAVIER LEGETTE: Blessed to be in this position, blessed to be there with my whole family. They're happy for me, man. I had to do this for them. My whole city got my back and I just want to make them happy.
Q. I just wanted to clarify, did you say you're at your grandmother's house?
XAVIER LEGETTE: No, ma'am. We at the town hall in my city, but I'm saying my grandma she was the most special person here tonight.
Q. Okay. As you said, you've been kind of confident it was going to be the Panthers for a while now. When did you first start realizing their interest was legit and this had a good chance happening?
XAVIER LEGETTE: I would say we had three days where we had to meet with teams, and each day I had a meeting with the Panthers at least. That's really when I realized like, okay, they really want me. They like me. Then, man, I just kept meeting with them. At the combine I met with them and then like they had about four, five folks on the staff at the pro day.
I'm like, okay, these guys serious about me. I also had a visit with them as well.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports