Camden DT Xzavier McLeod has been a frequent visitor to USC including the spring game in April. Because he’s been around the Gamecocks so much, and he’s not being recruited by Clemson, it’s been assumed by some McLeod would eventually commit to the Gamecocks. But as his recruiting profile has expanded to national status, and he’s taken more trips out of state, McLeod said Wednesday night his perspective on things has changed.
“More in the process I feel like, to be honest, I want to leave home more often now, because I want something better, but I’m not kicking them out,” McLeod said. “I mean, they are the home school. There is the chance I could go, but I have the possibility to leave home.”
That latest possibility is Texas. McLeod visited Austin last weekend on the backend of a Texas two-stop that also included Texas A&M. He had already been offered by the Aggies and Wednesday he landed one from the Longhorns.
“They both were great,” McLeod said. “The state is very huge, something I hadn’t figured out until I came to it. I got to meet both of the head coaches and both of the defensive line coaches. By what I’ve seen so far, they are pretty good. At both schools, I felt at home, I felt really good. I’ve already told some people that I’m doing an official at A&M, but I’m not too sure right now with Texas. I’ll be back at Texas on the 23rd of this month to workout with the coach. They offered. I like both schools. I felt like I was at home at each one.”
On that next trip to Texas, after the Austin stop, McLeod said he would spend the rest of the week in College Station. McLeod has one official visit set, to LSU June 16th, and he’s also planning to set one with Texas A&M. He’s undecided on the other three. As for a possible official visit with the Gamecocks?
“Probably not, no,” McLeod said. “The reason why is because I already know what South Carolina has to offer. I’ve been there multiple times and I feel like nothing is going to change how I feel.”
McLeod added that he’s still in contact with Gamecocks.
“They quieted down a little bit, but I’m still hearing the same thing though,” McLeod said. “Still keeping in touch with the coaches. It’s still the same level, still the same feeling they have for me.”
McLeod said the others from his short list he’s still looking strongly at are Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. He’s visited each of those unofficially except for Michigan. McLeod said he does not have a timeline for making his decision.
