Georgia defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod has left the team with only 5 days remaining before the 2026 season opener, according to reports by Dawgs247 on Monday afternoon.
With Kirby Smart‘s 3rd-ranked Bulldogs preparing to host Tennessee State on Saturday in a 3 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network+, Georgia will now have to adjust to life without McLeod, who according to the Dawgs247 report had addressed his plight on the team in a social media video last week. In that video, McLeod said he was “done with football” and “retired.”
McLeod had spent 2 years at Georgia, appearing in 14 games last season while making 6 starts. He was a productive member of Smart’s defense that helped the Dawgs win their 2nd straight SEC title, registering 17 tackles, 6 quarterback pressures and 2 pass breakups.
In his first season in Athens in 2024, McLeod showed he could contribute immediately. He played in 11 games and made 13 tackles, 2 of them for loss.
Georgia was counting on more production from the South Carolina native in 2026, with McLeod expected to be a force at nose tackle in a rotation with Jordan Hall. But that’s apparently gone by the wayside, and now the Dawgs will look to the likes of Nnamdi Ogboko, Valdin Sone and Nasir Johnson to help fill the void left by McLeod.
BREAKING: Georgia defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod no longer with program t.co/KLF1WU4y3a
— Dawgs247 (@Dawgs247) August 31, 2026McLeod came out of high school as a 4-star phenom, and he stayed in-state while signing with South Carolina as a member of the Class of 2023. But things didn’t work out for McLeod in Columbia, as he played in just 4 games as a true freshman, recording 1 tackle and 1 interception.
He ended up transferring to an SEC rival, but now that run has also apparently ended just as Georgia is about to start another journey toward possible glory.
With this distraction hitting Georgia just days before the start of the season, the Bulldogs still have their eyes on the conference prize, which is another SEC championship. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the Dawgs’ chances to bring home that 3rd straight SEC title in December:
Prediction Markets College Football SEC Championship Winner (2026) Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Georgia 29% Texas 22% LSU 9% Alabama 8% Texas A&M 8% Oklahoma 8% Ole Miss 6% Tennessee 3% PredictGeorgia DL no longer with the program, per reports Saturday Down South.
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