Clemson Football: Can Xavier Thomas shine on the biggest stage?
The Clemson football defense will need to put its best effort forward to stop LSU’s prolific offense. Could this be where Xavier Thomas shines?
The Clemson football team defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 29-23 in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl and earned a trip to the National Championship, as a result.
The Tigers (14-0) hold a 29-game winning streak and are looking to win a second-straight National Title when they take on the LSU Tigers (14-0) in New Orleans.
LSU, led by Heisman Trophy winner QB Joe Burrow, has one of the most prolific offenses in the nation with a deep wide receiver core and an elite offensive line.
Because of the talent and depth that LSU possesses on offense, the Bayou Bengals are actually considered a 5.5-point favorite coming into this one, courtesy of the Action Network.
With the Clemson football defense needing to play its best game of the season, could this be the moment Xavier Thomas shines the brightest?
Coming into 2019, Thomas was a preseason All-American and many Clemson football fans had hopes that he would be contending for all kinds of sacks and tackles for loss records. Unfortunately, that didn’t come to fruition throughout the season.
Thomas struggled with injuries, in particular a concussion that sidelined him for several games, and he wasn’t able to produce quite as highly as many had hoped.
As we head into the National Championship, Thomas has 25 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Though we haven’t heard his named called a ton during the 2019 Clemson football season, Tiger fans better watch out for Thomas in this game.
LSU is going to throw the ball more than any other team Clemson has faced this season. Though Burrow is known for getting the ball out quick, he also will scramble to buy time for his receivers when they’re not initially open. If Thomas can set a hard-edge, he’ll be able to use his athleticism and explosiveness to get after Burrow and potentially come away with a couple of sacks.
Next. ESPN FPI slightly favors Clemson over LSU. dark
Thomas has all the talent and skill in the world to be an elite pass-rusher and it would be a perfect stepping stone for him heading into his junior season to come away with a big-time performance on the biggest stage of them all.