Dalevon Campbell has heard the Xavier Legette comps. How he’ll make his own way at USC

Dalevon Campbell watches a lot of film.

Guys like Ja’Lynn Polk (former Washington Husky, current New England Patriot), Keon Coleman (former FSU Seminole, current Buffalo Bill) and Tory Horton (Colorado State) are players who Campbell tries to model his game after.

If one really plays receiver, they probably know a majority of the top wideouts in college football, he said. Campbell knows all of them. The top receiver for every team in CFB.

That includes former Gamecock Xavier Legette.

“I watched his film,” Campbell said. “I watch really every receiver in the nation’s film.”

Coming to South Carolina, he’s heard the Legette comparisons. Campbell is listed as 6-foot-4, 220 pounds on South Carolina’s 2024 roster. Legette was listed as 6-foot-3, 227 pounds in 2023.

USC used Legette’s success in its recruiting pitch to Campbell, who’ll use his final year of eligibility in Columbia this season after previous stints at Nevada (2022-23) and Illinois (2019-22).

Now it’s up to Campbell to take advantage. And make his own way.

“I want to prove I’m one of the best receivers in the nation,” he said. “I wanna go on the field and show that. I just wanna show I’m a team player, and I can play at the highest level.”

Legette was USC quarterback Spencer Rattler’s No. 1 target last season. The Mullins, South Carolina native caught 71 passes for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 104.6 receiving yards per game (2nd in the SEC and 8th in the country), 17.7 yards per catch (5th in the SEC) and 5.9 receptions per game (4th in the SEC).

Campbell may be built like Legette, but he’s joining a very different offense.

The Missouri City, Texas product has a new wide receivers coach in Mike Furrey and new quarterbacks in LaNorris Sellers and Robby Ashford, whose builds and skill sets differ greatly from Rattler’s pass-heavy repertoire. The South Carolina squad Campbell joined also bolstered its running back room significantly, having replaced lead contributor Mario Anderson with Raheim “Rocket” Sanders — one of the best rushers in the nation in 2022 (before injury limited him in 2023).

But Campbell still has offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, whose offense proved extremely beneficial for big wide receivers last season. And Campbell is a big fan of Furrey. He’s the kind of coach “you want to run through that wall for,” Campbell said.

Campbell is one of five transfer receivers to join the roster this offseason. He views his ability to go up and get balls as his greatest strength. He and Nyck Harbor (6-foot-5) are the tallest players in the room with three and four inches on their next-closest teammates. Campbell hopes to become more efficient at changing direction this season.

Now at his third school, Campbell said the transition to South Carolina has been easy because of the people. This wide receiver group is accommodating, encouraging and versatile. And they can’t wait for the season to start.