Following the recent injury to defensive lineman Jordan Hall, the Georgia Bulldogs have received more bad news regarding the status of one contributor in that same position group. Xzavier McLeod, who joined the Bulldogs this year from South Carolina, is sidelined with an abdominal strain and is expected to miss the Week 1 matchup with Clemson, first reported by 247Sports.
McLeod is a former four-star prospect in the class of 2023 from Camden, South Carolina. McLeod is listed at 6-foot-4, 313 pounds, and was the second highest rated recruit in South Carolina in the 2023 cycle. He saw action in one game for South Carolina last season, in which he recorded one tackle and one interception, before transferring to Georgia in December.
McLeod was brought in to provide immediate depth on the defensive line and is expected to factor in immediately to the rotation. With his status for the Clemson game now in doubt as well as the injuries to Jordan Hall and Warren Brinson, Georgia will have to rely on players like Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Jamaal Jarrett, Gabe Harris, and Christen Miller to play heavy snaps against the Tigers.