Gamecock Digest

REACTION: Xzavier McLeod's Departure Leaves Questions, Uncertain Future At DT

True freshman Xavier McLeod is no longer a part of South Carolina's Football program, leaving a variety of questions.

Andrew Lyon

REACTION: Xzavier McLeod's Departure Leaves Questions, Uncertain Future At DT
REACTION: Xzavier McLeod's Departure Leaves Questions, Uncertain Future At DT /

On Wednesday afternoon, multiple reports from different outlets in the Columbia area came out stating that true freshman defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod is no longer a part of South Carolina's Football program, which a program spokesperson confirmed. The first question everyone will ask is, what has happened that's culminated in this piece of news being dropped?

To keep things short and sweet, we don't know why McLeod is no longer with the team, and out of respect for him, we at GamecocksDigest don't plan on speculating on the possible reasons. Until any more details come out or don't come out, all we can do is discuss how this impacts the roster and the future of the defensive tackle position, which, in this case, is a great deal.

McLeod was the lone freshman defensive tackle signed in the 2023 recruiting class and was considered a big-time pickup by the Gamecocks, being an in-state four-star prospect that was heavily coveted by teams like the Georgia Bulldogs, and won South Carolina's Mr. Football award, one that's given annually to the best high school football player in the state of South Carolina as voted on by the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association.

Xavier's departure makes it now three defensive line commits from the 2023 class that either didn't sign with the team or left the program after enrolling with the team this past offseason. Zavion Hardy was a member of the Gamecocks' 2023 recruiting class up until around national signing day in February, when he announced he would instead attend East Mississippi Community College.

In February, early enrollee Monteque Rhames was arrested on multiple charges, such as obstruction of justice and carrying weapons on school property. This incident also involved redshirt freshman defensive back Anthony Rose and fellow early enrollee and defensive Cameron Upshaw Jr. and led to Rhames being suspended indefinitely. Outside of some rumblings that he could attend junior college this Fall, little has been heard about him since.

This unexpected loss of young talent along the defensive line means South Carolina will likely have to hit the portal at these positions this offseason and find a way to land guys like Amare Adams and Elijah Griffin in the 2025 class.

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Andrew Lyon
ANDREW LYON

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