South Carolina football: Gamecocks trending for Xzavier McLeod

South Carolina football is still working to close out the 2022 recruiting class on a high note, with their sights set on landing pledges from talented prospects up and down the East Coast. At the moment, the Gamecocks have 16 commitments in the boat, which has given them a boost into the top 20 nationally. While the staff is still hunting the trail for players in this cycle, it’s never too early to look ahead to the future.

And that’s exactly what Shane Beamer and Co. are doing.

The Gamecocks have recently started trending to land the commitment of five-star defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod. McLeod hails from Camden, South Carolina, and is considered to by 24/7 Sports to be the 32nd best player in the nation, regardless of position. He’s the top player in the Palmetto State for the 2023 class, as well as the ninth-best defensive lineman.

The Gamecocks have recently received a couple of crystal ball predictions for McLeod to land in Columbia when all is said and done, though South Carolina will battle a number of the country’s top programs. The high school junior currently holds offers from Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, and Louisville.

Should he make a pledge to the program, he’d become the first commitment in the ’23 cycle for the Gamecocks. That would keep the momentum rolling for South Carolina, who’s been hot this Summer under the new coaching staff. It would be a great recruiting win for the program, and could get the ball rolling for subsequent in-state commitments in next year’s class.

The state of South Carolina currently has four players rated in 24/7 Sports’ top 250 player rankings, and the Gamecocks have already offered each. Growing solid roots in the state of South Carolina led to a ton of success in Shane Beamer’s first stint with the program. He’s hoping to recreate that outcome with his next class.