WATCH: Xzavier McLeod discusses South Carolina commitment
Camden (S.C.) class of 2023 four-star DL Xzavier McLeod committed to the South Carolina football program on Thursday during a ceremony on his high school’s home field.
Gamecock Central was on hand as McLeod picked a Gamecock hat, choosing Carolina over finalists Georgia, Florida and Michigan.
Check out the video below as McLeod discussed his recruitment and reasons for staying home below…
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“A big part of my decision was staying home,” McLeod told On3. “I think coach Shane Beamer is going to do great things at South Carolina. It is a school close to home with great coaches and location did factor into my commitment.”
The On3 Consensus – a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies – has McLeod as the No. 189 overall prospect, No. 24 DL, and No. 3 in-state prospect in his class.
The commitment of McLeod is a major recruiting win for defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey who served as McLeod’s recruiter of record and future position coach.
“Coach Jimmy Lindsey is a great defensive line coach,” McLeod said. “I think he is going to prove that he can coach up his players and develop guys like me. He has a great work ethic, he pushes his players, and I think he will help South Carolina progress on the defensive line. He is a great coach, but he is also a great guy. We talk almost every day and we have a really good relationship.”
While South Carolina was considered a heavy early favorite for McLeod, Lindsey and the Gamecocks were able to withstand major pushes from out-of-state programs over the last couple of months.
McLeod took official visits to LSU and Michigan in June and multiple unofficials to Georgia as well as an eye-opening unofficial to Texas A&M that had McLeod buzzing about the Aggies in the immediate aftermath. Florida was also considered a major factor at one point.
While South Carolina was always thought to be the final pick, even down the stretch sources indicate McLeod heavily considered all of his final options. At one point earlier this week, there was a strong buzz that Georgia could be in position to land the interior line prospect.
But South Carolina stayed the course, ultimately landing the Palmetto State native who plays just 30 minutes down I-20 from Columbia.
Prior to his commitment, the Gamecocks were the favorite for McLeod according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, or RPM.
McLeod is the 18th commitment in South Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class, which was ranked No. 20 in the On3 Consensus Football Team Recruiting Rankings prior to his pledge.
It also gives South Carolina three of the top four prospects in the state of South Carolina according to the On3Consensus to go along with Dorman High’s Markee Anderson and Sumter’s Monteque Rhames. He is the eighth four-star commitment in the Gamecocks’ class.
