Big time DT Xzavier McLeod announces his top ten

Defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod was one of the stars of the Charlotte Rivals Camp last month and since then he took a series of visits across the Southeast. Now the Camden, S.C. star has announced a top ten of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Carolina. Many of those schools were able to get McLeod on campus in the last few weeks and visits are in the works for the others.

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"I wanted to make it easier for the season coming up so I can focus on playing," McLeod said. "I'm trying to get down to my five so I can do official visits. I don't want to take official visits during games in the season because I can have more time with the coaches so I'll probably take them during the summer or something like that. I'm not sure about a decision date but I'll be ready to sign for the December Signing Period. Enrolling early is the plan so far.

"They're most all on the same level," he said. "Georgia and LSU are on a little different level because of coach Scott at Georgia and coach Cain at LSU. They're great defensive guys. Coach Haggins at Florida State is obviously a good defensive guy too. The history has proven itself.

"I haven't been to Michigan, Oregon, or Oklahoma," said McLeod. "I don't have visits set in stone yet but I'm planning them.

"Coach Scott at Georgia and I are really close but I haven't talked to many of the other coaches there," he said. "I'm also really close with coach Lindsey at South Carolina. He and I have been having some good conversations. Another good relationship I have is coach Cain at LSU.

"It's the little things on these visits," McLeod said. "Each school I go to, we sit down in the coach's office and we talk for 15-30 minutes about how I look on the defensive line, the key aspects of playing and when I'll be able to play. Most of the schools are already saying that I'll play, be in the starting lineup, and there aren't any signs that I'll need to redshirt."

McLeod's top ten is full of big time programs but it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the spring plays out for him. Georgia, LSU, and South Carolina have to like where they currently stand but there is still a lot of work to be done. Dominoes will start to fall in the next four weeks and McLeod's recruitment will get much clearer after that.