Heading into the 2022 season, ClemsonWire will look at multiple players on the Clemson football roster.
Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school and what role they will play for head coach Dabo Swinney this season.
With the top two quarterbacks already covered, we will now be switching to the defense and looking at defensive end Xavier Thomas.
Entering his fifth season with the program, Thomas has been one of the Tigers’ most consistent pass rushers during his tenure and will be a valuable asset for defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin.
Here’s a snapshot look at Thomas.
Vitals
Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Hometown: Florence, S.C.
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 265
Class: Fifth-year senior
247Sports Composite Rankings
Class: 2018
Position: Defensive end
Rankings: Five-star / No. 3 national prospect / No. 1 Fla.
Career statistics
| Year | G | Tot Tackles | TFL | Sacks | FF | FR |
| 2018 | 14 | 33 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 27 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 | 6 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 11 | 21 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 2 | 0 |
Depth chart overview
Heading into the 2022 season, many believe Clemson’s defensive line will be among the best in the nation, and Thomas is a big reason why.
As a fifth-year senior, Thomas will often be the most experienced player on the field and will likely start opposite Myles Murphy.
His statistics from last season won’t jump off the page, but the 2021 Third-Team All-ACC selection was dominant in Clemson’s spring game and has high expectations for himself ahead of his final season with the Tigers.
With all the talent elsewhere on Clemson’s defensive front, Thomas won’t have to deal with double teams and could have his best season.
Thomas’ photo gallery
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