Countdown to kickoff 2025 roster spotlight: No. 94 Xzavier McLeod

The Georgia Bulldogs are just 94 days away from returning to Sanford Stadium to launch their 2025 season against the Marshall Thundering Herd on August 31. With another national championship run on the horizon, SicEmDawgs is continuing its countdown series by highlighting defensive lineman No. 94, Xzavier McLeod.

 

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McLeod is entering his second year in Athens and is poised to take a significant step forward in 2025. A former four-star prospect out of Camden, South Carolina, McLeod began his college career at South Carolina before transferring to Georgia. After getting his feet wet in 2023, he found a rhythm in his first full season in red and black, appearing in 11 games in 2024 and totaling 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup. His most impactful showing came in the SEC Championship win over Texas, where he recorded 1.5 TFLs.

With Georgia losing veterans Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to the NFL, there’s no shortage of reps available on the defensive interior. McLeod’s 158 total snaps from last year, most of them earned late in the season, position him well to be a regular contributor. According to PFF, he posted a solid 74.0 overall grade with a stout 78.4 mark in run defense, demonstrating his ability to anchor the point of attack and fight through double teams.

McLeod isn’t just a physical player; he’s an effort guy, and that trait has earned praise from head coach Kirby Smart and defensive line coach Tray Scott. “He’s a hard worker, great kid,” Smart said during playoff prep last year. “If he continues to work hard, he’ll continue to get better.”

While his pass-rush production remains a work in progress, McLeod’s relentless motor and strength make him a candidate to become a key piece of Georgia’s defensive front. His challenge heading into the fall is to improve his get-off at the snap and become more consistent with his hand technique.

With another offseason of development, McLeod has a realistic shot at filling the run-stopping void left by Stackhouse. His potential as a reliable space-eater who can keep linebackers clean and apply pressure when needed will be crucial for a defense that thrives on dominance up front.

Georgia doesn’t need McLeod to be the next Jordan Davis or Jalen Carter, but they do need him to turn promise into production. If he continues trending upward, No. 94 could be one of the more critical breakout stories of Georgia’s 2025 season.