COVID-19 took a toll on Clemson’s Xavier Thomas. Now he’ll miss most of 2020
Clemson will be without one of its top talents for much of the 2020 season.
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Thursday night that defensive end Xavier Thomas will redshirt this year after a battle with COVID-19 and strep throat. Thomas will be eligible to play in four games and still redshirt. And Swinney is hopeful the junior will be able to contribute some this year.
Thomas, a former five-star recruit, was expected to be a starter for the Tigers this fall.
“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. “He’s just nowhere near where he needs to be to play football.”
Thomas was diagnosed with COVID-19 before Clemson returned to campus for workouts in June, according to Swinney. Thomas “probably picked up 10 or 12 pounds during the whole quarantine thing,” Swinney said.
Thomas had strep throat later in the summer and struggled as he tried to go through workouts.
Swinney added that Thomas suffering from COVID-19 and strep throat and not being able to work out “put him in a bad place mentally as well.”
“He had a hard time when he got back with just his breathing, and again, that’s a combination of COVID, his strep throat, being a little heavy,” Swinney said. “The number one thing is for these guys to be healthy. The last thing we want to do is for X to try to go and be half of his potential.”
Thomas played 434 snaps, with eight starts as a sophomore. He recorded 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks in 12 games in 2019. He was named third-team All-ACC.
As a freshman in 2018, Thomas had 43 tackles (10.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and two pass breakups in 15 games.
“Certainly wish we had him. Xavier Thomas, he’s about as good as it gets,” Swinney said. “But we wouldn’t want him to be out there and not be the best version of himself. He’s got a bright, bright future. And we want to help him maximize that.”
Thomas tweeted out a Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11, shortly after Swinney announced the news: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Clemson earlier this summer reported that 37 football players had tested positive for the coronavirus since the athletics department started testing in early June. There were no hospitalizations reported. In its most recent athletics department update provided in late July, the school reported no active COVID-19 cases among student-athletes.
Swinney did say that receivers Frank Ladson and Joseph Ngata, who are roommates, did not participate in the first practice of fall camp Thursday night “due to protocols.” He did not indicate if the players have COVID-19.
No players have decided to opt out of the season with virus concerns, Swinney said.
The team learned earlier Thursday that it will begin the 2020 season at Wake Forest on Sept. 12. The home opener is slated for the following week against a nonconference opponent to be determined. Swinney expects the nonconference opponent to either be The Citadel or Akron. Clemson’s ACC home opener is Oct. 3 against Virginia.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 7:02 PM.
