Tag: Xzavier McLeod

Highlights, information: Incoming Georgia transfer DL Xzavier McLeod

Georgia football defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod, a former four-star recruit, transferred to the Bulldogs from South Carolina

Four-star transfer defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod announced he would be transferring to the Georgia Bulldogs from South Carolina back in December. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound defensive lineman should see snaps as a part of the Bulldogs’ defensive line rotation this fall.

The former four-star recruit from Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina, has four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting at South Carolina in 2023.

The Bulldogs return seniors Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse for the 2024 college football season, so Georgia should have depth and experience in the trenches. McLeod will have the opportunity to earn playing time in a Georgia defensive line room that also features Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Jordan Hall, Jamaal Jarrett, and Christen Miller.

What should Georgia fans know about Xzavier McLeod? What was his top play from 2023? Why did he get dismissed from South Carolina?

Georgia adds DL Xzavier McLeod from South Carolina

Georgia adds DL Xzavier McLeod from South Carolina

The Georgia Bulldogs are back to the transfer portal as they add defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod from South Carolina. The former four-star recruit will be coming to Georgia after one season in South Carolina, where he redshirted.

McLeod had one tackle and an interception on in his little playing time. He will have four years of eligibility remaining. McLeod is a big force for the middle of the defense standing 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds.

With Georgia losing multiple players in the middle over the years, McLeod could come in as a difference maker for a position group that needs help. The Bulldogs could lose Zion Logue, Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse to the draft so McLeod could find playing time immediately.

McLeod had multiple schools interested in him, but ultimately chose Georgia. The Bulldogs offered him in 2021 while he was playing his high school ball at Camden high school in South Carolina, however, he chose to stay in state and play for the Gamecocks.

McLeod joins the Bulldogs as the third transfer to the team with wide receiver London Humphreys and long snapper Beau Gardner.

South Carolina DL Xzavier McLeod plans visit with UGA

Former four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod set to visit Georgia football

South Carolina defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod has planned a visit with Georgia football. McLeod entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season.

Kirby Smart and Georgia need to add a transfer along the defensive line. McLeod played high school football for Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive lineman was the No. 117 recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 16 player at his position. McLeod was the second-ranked recruit in South Carolina.

As a true freshman, McLeod did not play much for the Gamecocks. He recorded one tackle and an interception in 2023. On3 reported McLeod’s visit to Georgia:

Georgia’s defensive line and run defense was not as dominant in 2023 as it was in previous years.

4-star South Carolina commit plans official visit to Florida

Florida hosted four-star South Carolina defensive line commit Xzavier McLeod over the weekend, and now he’s thinking about coming back for an official visit.

Florida continued its push to flip four-star South Carolina defensive line commit [autotag]Xzavier McLeod[/autotag] over the weekend by hosting him on an unofficial visit for the LSU game. McLeod got to campus a day early to spend time with coaches, according to 247Sports, and that time paid off enough to make him consider an official visit in December.

“It was good getting in early,” McLeod said. “I got in around 5 on Friday and got some time around the coaches that whole time. They toured me around the new facility and it was the first time they met my dad. They said they want to get me back for an official visit. They said probably sometime in December or whenever my parents can go.”

McLeod is looking to take a few official visits before putting pen to paper. He’s poking around to see if there’s still interest from Georgia and has Miami in mind too. Another visit to South Carolina wouldn’t be out of the question either, considering he’s still committed to the Gamecocks.

Florida’s incoming defensive line class is loaded with elite talent. Sean Spencer has earned verbal commitments from six four-star defensive linemen and edge rushers. Adding McLeod, who is ranked No. 174 overall on the 247Sports composite, would be the cherry on top of a stacked class.

Florida is officially on flip watch for McLeod, and a late official visit would create a good bit of drama leading up to the early signing period, which begins on Dec. 21.

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Florida hosting this 4-star South Carolina commit for LSU game

The Gators are hosting a ton of recruits this weekend for the LSU game, including some who are committed to another SEC program.

Florida will host a ton of priority recruits over the weekend, and one of the latest names to confirm his plans for the UF-LSU game is four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Xzavier McLeod[/autotag], according to 247Sports.

McLeod committed to the University of South Carolina on Aug. 18. Florida had a hat on the table along with Georgia and Michigan, but McLeod wemt with the Gamecocks after only making it to Gainesville once during the spring for an unofficial visit. This trip will also be an unofficial one, which means he doesn’t get all the perks an official visitor would, but Florida will still pull out all the stops to move him away from his pledge to South Carolina.

The Florida-LSU game is peak SEC atmosphere and should provide McLeod with a taste of what playing at the top of the conference might look like. He’ll also get to see how the new staff at Florida operates on a game day.

Florida already has a strong defensive line class under verbal commitments for the class of 2023, but defensive line coach Sean Spencer is always looking to add more talent to his room. McLeod has the versatility to find a place in a crowded incoming class.

The 247Sports composite ranks McLeod as the No. 175 overall recruit and the 26th-best defensive lineman in the class of 2023. The site’s individual ranking is even more bullish on him at No. 144 nationally and No. 20 among players in his position group.

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4-star DL Xzavier McLeod sets commitment date

Four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod put Georgia football in his top schools earlier this summer.

Four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod plays high school football for Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina. McLeod plans to decide where he will play college football on Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive lineman is the No. 172 recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 25 player at his position. McLeod is the third-ranked recruit in South Carolina. He’s a key in-state recruit for the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are favored to land his commitment per 247Sports.

The four-star will decide among Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. The elite defensive line prospect plans to play in the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game.

McLeod is a key SEC East recruit. How are teams in the division fairing with the class of 2023 recruiting cycle? Here’s how the SEC East stacks up (rankings per 247Sports).

  • Georgia Bulldogs (No. 5)
  • Florida Gators (No. 10)
  • Tennessee Volunteers (No. 11)
  • South Carolina Gamecocks (No. 19)
  • Kentucky Wildcats (No. 33)
  • Vanderbilt Commodores (No. 49)
  • Missouri Tigers (No. 67)

Oregon, Penn State, Texas and Florida are among the long list of schools that have offered a scholarship to Xzavier McLeod.

The Camden standout named his commitment date via Twitter:

McLeod later updated his commitment time.

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This 4-star DL is looking into a return a visit to the Swamp

Florida is hoping to get four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod back in town for the recruiting cookout this weekend. It would be his second trip to the Swamp.

Another blue-chip recruit is considering attending Florida’s recruiting cookout on Saturday, the day after the Gators host the annual Friday Night Lights camp. Four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Xzavier McLeod[/autotag] told Gators Online that he “might be” in attendance this weekend for his second visit to the Swamp.

The last time he was in town was at the beginning of April, a few weeks after he picked up a scholarship offer, and the returns seemed to be in Florida’s favor.

“Florida is one of the best visits, but it was professional,” McLeod said to On3’s Jeremy Johnson following the trip. “I understood where I stand and how I can impact the program, where I can play. It’s good to be informed on these things because you’re not trying to feel unwelcome in a school’s atmosphere or environment. I try to feel as comfortable and be myself as much as I can.”

Florida impressed McLeod enough to warrant a spot in his top six that came out in late June. Florida has some catching up to do, though. He’s already taken official visits to LSU and Michigan, and Georgia has hosted him six times only to be bested by South Carolina’s absurd total of nine visits.

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If Napier’s staff can impress him once again over the weekend, there’s a chance McLeod uses one of his three remaining official visits on Florida. It’s safe to assume that the Bulldogs and Gamecocks will each get one based on the number of trips he’s already made to each school, so the Gators are really competing for that last spot.

McLeod is ranked No. 197 overall on the On3 consensus and No. 26 among defensive linemen in the class of 2023. South Carolina is a 75.8% favorite right now to land the in-state recruit.

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4-star DL Xzavier McLeod names top six schools

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top six schools for four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod.

The Georgia Bulldogs and South Carolina Gamecocks are among the top six schools for four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod, a key in-state recruit for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks are hoping to land a commitment from the Camden High School star. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive lineman is the No. 162 recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 24 player at his position. McLeod is the third ranked recruit in South Carolina.

The four-star puts Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Michigan, LSU and Texas A&M in his list of top schools. McLeod is a solid student and is considered a South Carolina lean per 247Sports.

The elite defensive line prospect has taken recent visits to Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M. The rising Camden senior plans to play in the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game.

Oregon, Penn State, Texas and Florida are among the long list of schools that have offered a scholarship to McLeod.

The Camden standout named his top schools via Instagram:

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This 4-star defensive lineman has Florida in his top 6

Florida stays in the mix for four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod after making his top six.

Florida has yet to host four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Xzavier McLeod[/autotag] on an official visit, but that didn’t prevent the Gators from landing in his top six on Wednesday.

McLeod named Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, South Carolina and Texas A&M as his finalists. He’s coming off an official visit to the Tigers and will be in Ann Arbor next week to see the Wolverines. That leaves the Gators to fight with three other programs, all in the SEC, for the three remaining visits.

The last time McLeod was in town was back in April, though. The Gators offered him in March and impressed him on the spring visit, but they’ll need to get him back on campus to avoid being the odd man out of this group. Here’s what he said to 247Sports about Florida after putting the list out:

“Florida is one of the best visits but it was professional,” McLeod said. “I understood where I stand and how I can impact the program where I can play and it’s good to be informed on these things because you’re not trying to feel unwelcomed in a school’s atmosphere or environment so I try to feel as comfortable and be myself as much as I can.”

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Billy Napier and Co. are looking to add a deep defensive line class in 2023 and McLeod has the right size and tools for the job. Getting him out of South Carolina might be hard, though. He’s outright said that the home-state team is going to have the advantage, and he’s impressed with what Shane Beamer is building in Columbia.

There’s no date set just yet for a decision, but official visits typically signal that things are getting serious. Narrowing things down to a top six is also a sign that things are getting close, but things can always change in an instant when it comes to recruiting.

McLeod is ranked  No. 162 overall on the 247Sports composite and is No. 24 among defensive linemen in the class of 2023. Three crystal balls have been submitted in favor of the Gamecocks with medium confidence.

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4-star DL recruit names Florida in top 10, can’t wait to return

Could an official visit to the Swamp be up next for this South Carolina four-star recruit?

Florida made the top 10 for four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Xzavier McLeod[/autotag] on Friday.

The Camden, South Carolina recruit made the announcement on social media, listing Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Carolina as the other programs still in the hunt.

The Bulldogs will host him on Monday and Tuesday, and that should be it for McLeod’s spring schedule, according to 247Sports. With his options cut down to 10 schools, it’s time to figure out which ones will be getting official visits. LSU is in line to get one of those visits and Florida could be school No. 2 on the list.

“I love the facilities,” McLeod said. “When I was down there, I had coach  Napier say there were getting a new facility, so I am looking forward to seeing that. I can’t wait to get down there, probably for an official in the near future. I just can’t wait to get down there once again.”

The Gators hosted McLeod on April 2 and defensive line coach [autotag]Sean Spencer[/autotag] was able to spend some time with him in the film room. McLeod left with a good idea of how he would fit into UF’s scheme and thinks there’s room to make an early impact.

247Sports has a few crystal balls logged for McLeod in favor of the Gamecocks, with the most recent coming at the end of February. South Carolina certainly holds some weight in this race being 30 minutes away, but the SEC’s heavyweights might get him to leave his home state.

McLeod is ranked No. 115 overall in the class of 2023 by 247Sports and is also No. 14 among defensive linemen. The composite rankings are a bit less favorable at Nos. 170 and 25, respectively.

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