4-star DL Xzavier McLeod commits to South Carolina: 'A big part of my decision was staying home'

Camden (S.C.) four-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod attends high school just over 30 miles from South Carolina. He has visited Columbia between eight and 10 times and included the Gamecocks in his top four alongside Florida, Georgia and Michigan.

The message given to McLeod by head coach Shane Beamer and his staff was strong. They said he could stay home and be a legend around the Palmetto State. If McLeod stayed in South Carolina, he was told, he could be a leader with the Gamecocks and do great things for the program.

That message was one factor of McLeod’s decision to commit to the Gamecocks on Thursday.

“They have told me from the beginning that I can come in, make a big impact in the program, and do big things at South Carolina,” McLeod told On3. “They have been very consistent and had a consistent message for me. It has always been about staying home and doing big things for the school close to home.”

McLeod, a 6-foot-4.5, 325 pound prospect, is now the second-highest-ranked recruit in South Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class behind Roebuck (S.C.) Dorman four-star interior offensive lineman Markee Anderson. Both players are top-200 prospects, according to the 2023 On3 Consensus.

McLeod believes in the future at South Carolina

McLeod joins Sumter (S.C.) four-star EDGE Monteque Rhames and other defensive blue-chip commitments in the Gamecocks’ 2023 group. The No. 3 player in South Carolina is also bound for a program that has landed stellar in-state defensive line prospects in the past like Jadaveon Clowney and Jordan Burch.

In upcoming years, McLeod is excited to learn from defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey. Last season, Lindsey helped Alex Huntley make the Freshman All-SEC Team.

“Coach Jimmy Lindsey is a great defensive line coach,” said McLeod, the No. 189 overall prospect and No. 24 defensive lineman in the On3 Consensus. “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.”

South Carolina’s fortunes have also turned for the better under Beamer. In his first season at the helm, the Gamecocks went 6-6 in the regular season and won the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

That performance impressed McLeod, who shared that Beamer has great energy and loves to work. McLeod also loves “how motivated is.” The four-star believes that Beamer is trying to do what his father, Frank, did at Virginia Tech. Frank Beamer won 238 games with the Hokies and took them to a national championship during the 1999 season.

As the Gamecocks develop under Beamer, McLeod is looking forward to joining the program. Possibly, he can help his home state school reach greater heights, just minutes away from his hometown.

“A big part of my decision was staying home,” McLeod said. “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.”