These are good times to be the Clemson Tigers. College football’s defending national champions lost program MVP Deshaun Watson to the NFL, but they’re bringing in a great recruiting class this year, and next year’s looks even better right before their third-straight trip to the College Football Playoff.
Watch 5-star Clemson signee Xavier Thomas, America’s top-ranked defensive end
Thomas officially signed with Clemson in December’s Early Signing Period.
Dabo Swinney’s program has signings from two of the top-three ranked players in the class of 2018: quarterback Trevor Lawrence (whom you can meet here) and defensive end Xavier Thomas, an IMG Academy product who could rack up sacks in the ACC (and beyond) for a long time to come.
Few things in football jump out more on tape than a dominant defensive end, and Thomas fits the bill as well as anyone in 2018. The 6’3 255-pounder, who’s originally from Florence, S.C., is just about the total package. He’s bulky enough to line up on the inside if his coaches want him to, but he profiles as an end in the long run because he’s so quick and fluid — even with that big frame.
Here are highlights and portions of an interview with Thomas:
Like most five-star ends, Thomas prides himself on his pass rushing. Asked by SB Nation’s Bud Elliott earlier this year if he thought he could become like any particular NFL player, he named former Clemson and current Falcons star Vic Beasley.
“Just the fact that his speed off the edge, he’s an edge rusher, and I watched him at Clemson,” Thomas says, and adds, “I really relate my game to him.”
He’s a few years behind, but Thomas is one of the few ends for whom that comparison isn’t ridiculous. He should be a force at Clemson, and then we’ll see what’s next.
