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Georgia Star Defensive Lineman No Longer with Program Despite Expected Big Role
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- Georgia Star Defensive Lineman No Longer with Program Despite Expected Big Role
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
The Georgia Bulldogs are just days away from getting started with their regular season campaign as football prepares to return to a very toasty Sanford Stadium this upcoming weekend.
While a game against Tennessee State may not present the highest of stakes, fans are just as excited nonetheless and cannot wait to get their first look at this year's edition of the Dawgs. On Monday though, those same fans got a dose of bad news with one player who was expected to play a significant role along the defensive line this season.
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According to a report from Dawgs247 , defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod is no longer with the program ahead of the week one showdown after he posted a video on social media briefly addressing the fact that he is "done with football" and "retired."
"Had some issues not with coaching just thought it was time ! [sic] to move away from college football," he said in the video.
Xzavier McLeod No Longer on Georgia Roster
By all accounts, McLeod's departure is not related to any issues with the coaching staff or direct football problems, and this seems more like a personal decision rather than any sort of dramatics that will end with him eventually in the transfer portal.
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He was expected to be a significant piece of this defense line this season and would have been one of the nose tackles in the rotation along with Jordan Hall and Valdin Sone, who has been reported to have had a huge fall camp and could potentially be a factor sooner rather than later.
Losing McLeod is a tough blow without a doubt, but interior defensive line is one of the deepest positions on the roster. The former South Carolina transfer who started six games for Georgia last season after a big first season with the program in 2024 would have been part of the puzzle this year.
If there's one position where the Bulldogs can handle a loss though, it's at interior defensive line. This may be the area on the roster over the years that Georgia has developed better than anywhere else, and though McLeod looked like he could be the next star, there are names ready to step in.
Fans should wish him the best as he moves on to other endeavors and potentially a life beyond football even if it is a little bit of a blow to the depth for him to step away now.
