Clemson’s Xavier Thomas is ahead of schedule in his comeback from COVID-19
There was fear during preseason camp that Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas would miss most, if not all, of the 2020 season. But coach Dabo Swinney said Monday night that the junior is making progress and he is hopeful the Tigers will have Thomas back “sooner than later.”
Thomas battled COVID-19 and strep throat this summer and was sidelined as Clemson went through summer workouts.
His return would be a big boost for a Clemson defense that is already playing well, having produced its first shutout since 2016 on Saturday against The Citadel.
“He’s kind of been with the strength staff every day at practice. And he looks great,” Swinney said. “I’d say he’s getting really close. But I think this week is kind of the next step.”
The plan for this week is for Thomas to start going through individual drills for the first time since the spring. From there — Thomas will be put in a green jersey, meaning he can participate in practice but with no contact.
“I think he’s trending in a good direction,” Swinney said. “I think he’s a little ahead (of schedule), to be honest with you. I really do. He’s worked really hard. He’s been grinding every day. So it’s been good.”
Thomas signed with Clemson as a five-star recruit and the No. 3 overall player in the country for the class of 2018.
The 6-foot-2, 270 pounder was named third-team All-ACC last season after recording 31 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
Thomas was expected to be a starter for the Tigers this season, but Swinney announced in early August that he would redshirt and miss most of the year.
“We are holding him out for medical reasons, really treating him like an injury. X has probably had more on him than anybody since March,” Swinney said last month. “He’s just nowhere near where he needs to be to play football.”
At the time when Swinney announced Thomas would redshirt, in order for him to do so he would have only been able to play in four games this season. However, the NCAA has since changed its policy for 2020 due to COVID-19, and Thomas and every college football player will be able to play this season without losing a year of eligibility.
“When all the rules changed and he realized he could play more than four games, I think that lit a little more of a fire under him as well,” Swinney said Monday. “So he’s been working hard and hopefully we’ll get him back sooner than later.”
Next Clemson football game
Who: Clemson vs. Virginia
Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 3
TV: ACC Network
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Clemson’s Xavier Thomas is ahead of schedule in his comeback from COVID-19."
