Panthers Receiver Xavier Legette Brings NFL Teammates Home to Marion County for a Taste of Country Life

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette recently brought some of his NFL teammates, including quarterback Bryce Young, back to his hometown of Mullins, South Carolina, a Marion County town of fewer than 4,000 residents, for a day centered on horses, fishing and a local tradition he calls a “trail ride.”

Legette, a first-round pick out of South Carolina in 2024, has become known among NFL fans for his country roots, including caring for his horses. Sports Illustrated documented the visit, which included the whole town joining the trail ride alongside Legette and his teammates.

Legette told OutKick in a recent interview, tied to his partnership with Bojangles, that the visit meant as much to his community as it did to his teammates.

“To tell you the truth, man, that part of it was great — for them to be able to come and do those things. But I think the best thing really in my eyes about the whole situation was them boys being able to come in my community. People in my community being able to see other people other than me, you know what I’m saying? Because they always see me.”

Legette said he is one of the first people from Marion County to reach his level of professional success, and he wanted his hometown to see more faces than just his own.

“I grew up there and I’m one of the first ones to be able to be in this position that I am being from Marion County. So just being able for them to see other faces, they was excited. Everyone know everybody, but my family, it stands out to me, you know what I’m saying? They’re the ones that helped me able to [do this]. They shaped me into being who I am today. I got my love for them. It’s out of this world and being able to just go through the growing pains with them, ups and downs, and then it’s nothing but smiles on their face. That’s what I love to see.”

The visit also included a taste of local cuisine that has made Legette something of a viral figure in NFL circles — he has previously spoken about eating raccoon and squirrel harvested from hunts with his family. When his teammates came to Mullins, several tried the raccoon themselves.

“Oh yeah, we had the raccoon out there. A couple of them tried it,” Legette said, adding that Young left before it was ready. Fellow receiver David Moore was among those who tried it.

Country Meets Spooky

Legette’s country lifestyle is also the centerpiece of a new content series from Pepsi and Bojangles featuring one of his horses, known as Dime Piece, timed to Halloween and the football season. Starting Oct. 1, the Bojangles Bite Box will come with limited-edition haunted house packaging.

“I think it’s a great collab. It’s one of the biggest ones I’ve ever did, and man, I hope we can come up with something else for the future. They understand my love for the horses and they wanted to bring that to life with this commercial. It’s great.”

Legette said he’s already looking forward to Halloween himself, likely in the same costume he wears every year.

“All I wanted to be was Spider-Man every year,” he said, laughing.