Carolina Panthers first-round pick Xavier Legette, as he often did growing up, disappeared to his uncle's horse stable on the outskirts of Mullins, South Carolina, a few weeks ago during an unscheduled trip home.
Being at the stable and riding his horse "Dolla Bill" around the town of about 5,000 always was an escape for the star wide receiver known by most as "Zay.''
This was a time for an escape.
Legette was home because one of his good friends, Kenny Lasane Jr., a Material Specialist in the Army and the father of a 4-year-old, had been murdered in June.