Kirby Smart confirms defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod has left Georgia football

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart confirmed Wednesday that defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod has departed the program. McLeod, who transferred from South Carolina and started six games for the Bulldogs last season, left the team after participating in only two practices during fall camp. Smart noted that McLeod decided to stop playing football and intends to graduate after the current semester. The Bulldogs head into their September 5 season opener against Tennessee State with a defensive line group that has practiced together throughout the spring and fall. While McLeod recorded 17 tackles and 6 quarterback pressures in the 2025 season, Smart expressed confidence in the team's remaining depth. The coach did not identify a specific replacement for McLeod's role, citing the even distribution of repetitions among the defensive line rotation throughout recent training sessions.

• 4:00 PMYahoo Sports — Kirby Smart addresses Xzavier McLeod departure, impact on Georgia defensive line