Xzavier McLeod, a defensive lineman who started the final six games for Georgia last season, is officially stepping away from football. Coach Kirby Smart broke the news on Wednesday, Sept. 2, just days before the Bulldogs kick off their season opener against Tennessee State on Saturday.
The Real Deal On McLeod’s Departure
Smart revealed this isn’t some fresh breaking story everyone’s just now hearing about. McLeod actually hasn’t been with the team since their second practice of preseason! Smart made it clear, “All the news of Xzavier, everybody’s acting like it’s something newly released or something.” The truth? McLeod simply decided he didn’t want to play football anymore. It’s a personal choice, and Smart said, “He just didn’t want to play football anymore. Certainly respect that.” McLeod had only practiced once or twice this preseason before making his decision to give it up. He’s on track to graduate after this semester, which is huge for him. Last season, McLeod, a transfer from South Carolina in his third year with the program, was a solid presence on that defensive line. He tallied 17 tackles, 6 quarterback pressures, and 2 pass breakups. He even racked up 272 snaps, the fifth most on the defensive line, according to Pro Football Focus. Smart did mention that McLeod practiced this spring, but didn’t get many reps back then.
Next Up: Georgia’s Stacked D-Line
So, what’s the deal for the Dawgs’ defense without him? Smart isn’t sweating it. He’s been watching his defensive linemen put in serious work for weeks, and he sounds pumped. “Our kids have been practicing really hard on the defensive line,” Smart said, calling them a “really good group that is exciting to watch and have been doing an exceptional job.” Tray Scott, who really pushes that group, has them doing a “great job in practice.” Smart feels like they’ve got “as much depth as we’ve had there.” While he might not see one single dominant player, it’s all about that collective strength. “I don’t know that we have one dominant player but we’ve got a lot of depth at that position,” he noted. Smart didn’t name any specific guys who might see more snaps, but the Bulldogs are still loaded. They’re bringing back three of their top four defensive linemen from last season: Gabe Harris, Elijah Griffin, and Joseph Jonaye-Ajonye. Plus, Josh Horton, Jordan Hall, and Nnamdi Ogboko are all ready to go. Smart also pointed out that during the 15 spring practices, reps were spread out pretty evenly. And through 22 or 23 fall camp practices, “all those guys have taken all those reps.” He’s feeling “good about that room. All of those guys are going to be ready to play.”
What To Watch For This Saturday
The Bulldogs kick off their season this Saturday against Tennessee State. All eyes will be on that defensive line. Can they live up to Smart’s confidence and show off that incredible depth from day one? You know they’ll be fired up and ready to prove they’re still a dominant force.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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