Kirby Smart’s team already had question marks along the defensive line, but injuries in fall camp will test Georgia’s depth in Week 1 against No. 14 Clemson. Warren Brinson came into fall camp hampered by an Achilles injury, Jordan Hall will miss for the start of the year, and now South Carolina transfer Xzavier McLeod is expected to be out the season opener after it was reported that he suffered an abdominal strain in fall camp.
McLeod transferred to Georgia after he was dismissed from the South Carolina football program last fall. The 2023 four-star recruit had played just 30 snaps across four contests for the Gamecocks but figured to be a key piece of Glenn Schummann’s defense as a redshirt freshman.
While Hall and McLeod are both expected to miss the matchup with Clemson, Warren Brinson appears healthy enough to play. On Tuesday, Smart updated the injury report and said, “Warren’s been working his way back, I think 75, 85% on the GPS metrics. That was an Achilles coming into camp, think we should be able to get him back soon. Will know more today.”
That leaves Georgia with its primary starters on the interior, Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse, but without much depth behind them. Redshirt sophomore Christen Miller will be forced into an increased role along defensive line rotation and 6-foot-5 280-pound defensive end Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins could be forced to move inside temporarily. True freshman Joseph Jonah-Ajonye should also be expected to play.
Last season, Clemson finished the year 43rd in rushing offense, but only averaged 4.3 yards per attempt. In a very fast-paced offense under OC Garrett Riley, the Tigers could wear down Georgia’s thin defensive line and improve their efficiency on the ground with running back Phil Mafah.
Georgia is still a two-touchdown favorite over Clemson for the Aflac Kickoff Game, but if Brinson’s return to the field is slowed at all before August 31, or if he reaggravates the injury in his first live-action, then Carson Beck could be asked to win a shootout. The last time Georgia and Clemson met, the Bulldogs took a 10-3 win.