Xavier Thomas sends heartfelt message to Tiger Nation

Xavier Thomas’ college career ended following Clemson’s 38-35 win over Kentucky in the 2023 Gator Bowl. After the victory, Thomas sent out a message to Tiger fans thanking them for their support during his time at Clemson.

“Wow, we are finally here. One hell of a journey it was. When people ask me if I would change anything? As crazy as it sounds, no, I wouldn't. Every obstacle, every lesson, everything that was thrown my way during my college career has molded me into the player and the man I am today. I would not change a thing.

When I made the decision to come to Clemson in 2018, I was expected to be a three-and-out guy. Freshman All-American, national championship winner. Sophomore year, 2019, we make it right back to the Natty. Junior year, 2020, is where everything changed. COVID hits me, and I go through a deep depression within myself that entire year and become 50 pounds overweight. I was ready to quit football and quit on myself. I dug myself out of that hole in 2021 and decided to return for my fifth year in 2022 when I then suffered my first and only serious injury of my career when I broke my foot right before the season. Due to not being able to play because of that injury, I decided to return for my sixth year here at Clemson in 2023. Now here we are.

What I want to teach everyone from my story – young and old – is to NEVER EVER give up on yourself no matter how bad things may seem, no matter how dark that road may look. Keep the faith and KEEP GOING. I promise it will always work out for you in the end if you just keep faith in God.

To Clemson Nation, I thank you for everything-- the memories, the relationships, and the lessons taught. It has been an honor to wear that paw! I am so thankful for this program since it could have easily moved on from me with the position I was in years ago. All of the endless love and support you guys have given me will never go unnoticed in my heart.

It is finally time to move on, and I am now turning my attention to the 2024 NFL Draft. #30ut”

Thomas finished the game with a sack and a key forced fumble, helping lead Clemson to the come-from-behind victory.

From Thomas’ ClemsonTigers.com Bio:

Explosive edge rusher who made an immediate impact as a reserve in 2018, earning near-unanimous Freshman All-American acclaim … two-time all-conference selection (2019 and 2021) … enters 2023 bowl season credited with 142 tackles (33.0 for loss), nine pass breakups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 1,825 career snaps over 60 games (29 starts) … became the seventh player in school history — and the fourth defensive player — to play in 60 career games at Clemson.

2023: Enters bowl season credited by the coaching staff with 26 tackles (3.0 for loss), two sacks, four pass breakups, a team-high 21 quarterback pressures and a fumble recover in 440 snaps over 11 games (10 starts) … credited with one tackle and three quarterback pressures at Duke … notched two tackles (one for loss) with a sack vs. Charleston Southern … made one tackle vs. Florida Atlantic … posted four tackles (2.0 for loss) and a sack vs. No. 4 Florida State … recorded three tackles at Syracuse and added a fumble recovery he returned 20 yards to the Syracuse three-yard line to set up a Clemson score … added two tackles and a pass breakup vs. Wake Forest … contributed five tackles at NC State … posted two tackles and a pass breakup vs. No. 12 Notre Dame … made one tackle vs. Georgia Tech … added a tackle and a pass breakup vs. No. 20 North Carolina … recorded four tackles and a pass breakup at South Carolina.

2022: Limited by a foot injury to three games, collecting four tackles (2.0 for loss), two sacks and a forced fumble in 52 defensive snaps … ACC Honor Roll selection … missed the first five games of the season after suffering a foot injury in fall camp … returned to action at Boston College, where despite playing only six snaps, he earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after posting two sacks, a forced fumble and an additional quarterback hit, collecting the Leather Helmet Award from the Boston College Gridiron Club as the game’s MVP … added two tackles at Florida State.

2021: Third-team All-ACC selection … also added all-conference honors from PFF (second team) and Phil Steele (fourth team) … credited with 27 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup in 476 snaps over 12 games (10 starts) … credited with a team-high 17 quarterback pressures … recorded one tackle and a pass breakup vs. No. 5 Georgia … added two tackles vs. SC State … credited with one tackle —a half-sack — vs. Georgia Tech … recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble among his five tackles at NC State … contributed three tackles (2.0 for loss) and a sack vs. Boston College … made two tackles (one for loss) at Syracuse … added two tackles at No. 23 Pitt … recorded six tackles and a forced fumble vs. Florida State … the forced fumble against Florida State came three yards behind the line of scrimmage on a pass play, but with Florida State recovering the fumble past the line of scrimmage, NCAA rules prohibiting sacks from being credited on fumbles that gain yardage precluded him from receiving a sack on the play … made four tackles at Louisville … harassed Brock Purdy with three credited quarterback pressures and made one tackle vs. Iowa State.

2020: Initially intended to play only four games in 2020 and redshirt after complications with COVID-19 and strep throat, but ended up playing seven games upon the NCAA’s blanket eligibility waiver for 2020 … credited with 11 tackles (4.0 for loss), 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in only 119 snaps over seven games (one start) … made season debut vs. No. 7 Miami … added three tackles (0.5 for loss) at Georgia Tech … recorded three tackles including his first sack of the season vs. Syracuse … added a sack vs. Boston College, giving him a full sack in back-to-back games for the first time in his career … made one tackle at No. 4 Notre Dame … forced a fumble on a sack vs. Pitt … had a half-sack among his two tackles at Virginia Tech.

2019: Third-team All-ACC selection … credited with 31 tackles (8.0 for loss), 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 434 snaps in 12 games (eight starts) … recorded four tackles (1.5 for loss) with a half-sack vs. Georgia Tech … added two tackles including a half-sack vs. No. 12 Texas A&M … made three tackles, including his first full sack of the season, at Syracuse … contributed two tackles (one for loss) vs. Charlotte … added five tackles and contributed to the game-winning stop on a two-point conversion attempt at North Carolina … made one tackle and rushed for one yard on his first career rushing attempt vs. Florida State … recorded a tackle and a fumble recovery at NC State … posted two tackles, both for loss, vs. Wake Forest … notched three tackles and a pass breakup vs. No. 22 Virginia in the ACC Championship Game … registered six tackles (1.5 for loss) in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 2 Ohio State … added two tackles vs. No. 1 LSU.

2018: Credited with 43 tackles (10.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and two pass breakups in 304 snaps over 15 games … first-team Freshman All-America selection by USA Today, ESPN.com, The Athletic and 247Sports … made debut with three tackles (including one for loss) against Furman … recorded first career sack vs. Georgia Southern … collected team co-special teams player of the week honors against Georgia Tech after a devastating hit on the Yellow Jackets’ only kickoff return of the day … helped seal a comeback win against Syracuse, recording a highlight-reel sack and applying pressure throughout Syracuse’s final desperation drive … recorded two tackles for loss among his four total tackles at Wake Forest … made five tackles, including 2.5 for loss, in only 25 snaps vs. No. 16 NC State … collected two tackles for loss with one sack among his three tackles at Florida State … added four tackles vs. Louisville … contributed four tackles at No. 17 Boston College … added three tackles vs. Duke … made one tackle vs. South Carolina … registered three tackles and a pass breakup in ACC Championship Game against Pitt … made two tackles including an assisted tackle for loss vs. No. 3 Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl … contributed three tackles including a half-sack in the National Championship Game vs. No. 1 Alabama.

Before Clemson: No. 3 player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 4 player by ESPN and No. 5 player by PrepStars and Rivals … No. 1 defensive end in the nation by 247Sports, ESPN, PrepStars and Rivals … No. 1 player in Florida by 247Sports, ESPN, PrepStars and Rivals … Anthony Munoz national lineman-of-the-year … U.S. Army All-American Game participant … played at IMG (Fla.) Academy as a senior after playing three seasons at Wilson High School (Florence, S.C.) … helped IMG Academy to a 9-0 record and No. 2 national ranking by MaxPreps as a senior … USA Today National Defensive Player-of-the-Year finalist … invited to Nike’s The Opening in 2017 … had 34 tackles and eight tackles for loss as a senior … had 70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks as a sophomore … had 568 yards and eight touchdowns on 59 carries as a sophomore … had 59 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 21 quarterback pressures as a freshman … teammate of fellow Tiger signee Mike Jones Jr. … coached by Kevin Wright at IMG Academy High School … enrolled at Clemson in January 2018 … recruited by Todd Bates, Danny Pearman and Brent Venables.

Personal: Born Dec. 20, 1999 … earned degree in criminal justice in December 2020 in only three years … earned master’s degree in athletic leadership in December 2022.