North Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers, despite a challenging 1-5 start to the season, are beginning to see the potential in their new roster additions. Central to this development is Xavier Legette, a first-round draft pick from South Carolina. Legette has shown promise with consistent performances over recent weeks, highlighted by a game against the Bengals where he caught six receptions on ten targets for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Legette introduced fans to his touchdown celebration during that game, which involves "hopping on his horse" Dolla Bill. "That's going to be it every time," Legette remarked about his signature move.

In another notable moment against the Falcons, Legette demonstrated why the Panthers valued him so highly in the draft. He made a contested catch that earned praise from quarterback Andy Dalton. "That's just letting me know Andy Dalton trusts me," Legette said of Dalton's confidence in him during tight plays.

Legette has been effective with 64 percent of his targets resulting in catches, ranking third among first-round receivers. His success rate stands at 52 percent for critical plays.

"The game, the speed is the same as from college for me," noted Legette regarding his adaptation to professional football.

With Adam Thielen sidelined due to injury, other rookies like Jalen Coker and Ja'Tavion Sanders have stepped up alongside Legette. Against Atlanta, Dalton executed an efficient two-minute drive before halftime using all three rookie pass catchers.

"It's great to see those guys... make their plays that came to them (Sunday)," said Dave Canales about the progress of his young players.

Coker, initially joining as an undrafted free agent, has developed into a reliable target with seven receptions over three games. "He's someone that does well with fundamentals," said Legette about Coker’s skills and potential longevity in the league.

As rookies like Jonathon Brooks prepare for their return and integration into team strategies, there is recognition that performance must translate into victories without sacrificing morale. "You have to be perfect to win these games... we've got to execute on the plays that we missed (Sunday)," stressed Legette.

The Panthers' rebuilding efforts continue underpinned by contributions from their rookie class led by Xavier Legette who remains optimistic about overcoming challenges: "Just stay with the positive and just look at the negatives to see how we can overcome it."