There is, perhaps, no better way to open a college football game than what South Carolina’s Xavier Legette did against Texas A&M on Saturday in Columbia. It was perfect, brilliant and absolutely jaw-dropping.
On the literal very first play of the game — not the Gamecocks’ opening drive but the opening kickoff itself — Texas A&M’s Caden Davis kicked the ball 65 yards into Legette’s hands in the end zone.
Legette took off, but at first, it looked like he’d get halted somewhere around the 15-yard line. NOPE.
With some initial solid blocking help from Jalen Preston, among others, Legette scooted through some chaos to the right sideline and escaped at least two tackles in addition to a mess of Aggies trying to slow him down. Again, it looked like he’d go down around the 35-yard line, and again, NOPE.
And by the time Legette cross his team’s own 40, he had a wide open field ahead of time, cruising to the opposite end zone for a stunning 100-yard kickoff return.
Starting off strong 😤@XavierLegette gets the #Gamecocks on the board with a 100-yard TD! https://t.co/EqHhZQZA1F pic.twitter.com/2HDog9YUqN
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) October 22, 2022
Just, wow. 10/10, no notes — except for Texas A&M’s tackling.
And according to the Greenville News, it was South Carolina’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since Deebo Samuel did it in 2017.
Feature image courtesy of ESPN.
College football fans were in absolute awe.
X!!!!! https://t.co/697kuur5ee
— Beezo💸 (@CammBethea) October 22, 2022
Now that's how you start a Best Bet Game!!! Xavier Legette's too 💪
Nobody is taking this kid down! He's too busy making house calls!🔥
South Carolina Gamecocks LFG!!! pic.twitter.com/zrucSNIDFI
— Skitchen (@Skitchen3) October 22, 2022
XAVIER MF'N LEGETTE!!
— Still just Matt (@AGratefulLeper) October 22, 2022
One helluva way to start a game https://t.co/HasHKfGBMS
— Jamie Bowman (@JamieBo38796305) October 23, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA! Xavier Legette takes the opening kickoff 100 yards to the house!!! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/agcFzMaOAB
— 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 @𝗙𝗧𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝟳 (@FTBeard7) October 22, 2022
Lmaooo no way https://t.co/PUfQm0JseM
— Sauce Mandela 🎈 (@ExtendoCocc) October 23, 2022
100 yard return!!!!!
— USC (@RealUSC) October 22, 2022
100-yard kickoff return TD to start the game 🐓🔥
(via @SECNetwork)pic.twitter.com/xeRilUXNCU
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) October 22, 2022
WHAT. A. PLAY!!!! https://t.co/oYha9H6GOw
— TRUMAN.THE.SUPERFAN (@TrumanKinsey) October 23, 2022
Beamer Ball https://t.co/IsHasJGngb
— Alex Destino (@Destino_15) October 23, 2022
XAVIER LEGETTE TO THE HOUSE TO START THE GAME AND WILLIAMS-BRICE IS GOING CRAZY! @wachfox pic.twitter.com/eNRbKF8QDE
— Matt Vereen (@MattVereen) October 22, 2022
*yells Beamer Ball into the abyss* https://t.co/C6WIsl0lEV
— Shannie Lawless (@BeeEssEmm8) October 22, 2022
https://t.co/5xl8mIFagY pic.twitter.com/sk4ZcmVprz
— TobeyT (@TobeyT85) October 22, 2022
— Ericvol2096 (@EricQuiz2096) October 22, 2022
XAVIER LEGETTE NO WAY 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/rIKY4QGvCa
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) October 22, 2022
XAVIER LEGETTE HOUSE CALL TO START THE GAME LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO
— Garnet and Black Attack (@GABAttack) October 22, 2022
