WEDNESDAY EVENING NUGGETS
By: Larry Williams
A few football-related thoughts and insights on a Wednesday:
-- Xavier Thomas has a little something extra as his college career comes to a close.
Something we didn't even consider until after Thomas took part in the pummelling of South Carolina's offense in Columbia:
Until Saturday, Thomas hadn't played a snap against the Gamecocks in four years.
GIVE A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO TIGERILLUSTRATED.com!
You read that right. The last time he saw the field against South Carolina was in 2019 in Columbia when Will Muschamp was still the Gamecocks' coach, and Trevor Lawrence was a sophomore for the Tigers. Clemson extended its nation's-long winning streak to 27 games that day in a 38-3 yawner.
Two years ago in Columbia, Thomas was a late scratch and the mystery surrounding it created the perception that he was just mailing in the end of his career and protecting himself for the draft, or whatever.
He ended up returning in 2022 but played just 52 snaps in three games because of a foot injury.
And then he came back again in 2023.
Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas is shown here in Death Valley earlier this month ahead of the Tigers' matchup vs. Georgia Tech. (Getty Images)
So yeah, this sixth-year senior was motivated under the lights as he helped Clemson's defense totally shut down the Gamecocks after the first quarter.
And he's not in a hurry to get started on draft prep, going against the grain of current trends here and elsewhere by committing to play in Clemson's bowl game.
Most of you have probably already seen his social-media reply to a fan asking about his plans, but it bears repeating:
"Yessir, one last time. This program has given me everything & more when they could have moved on when I was down & out. I have to give my all in return. Grateful to even be able to play the game of football again. Finishing it out before we head to the league."
What a cool way to cap a rollercoaster career. What a great example of a 5-star talent who uses the college experience to experience immense personal growth.
Oh, and we should point out that his one-game suspension for the trip to Miami wasn't the product of a recent screw-up.
We're told it was a years-old offense that was discovered, and Thomas was punished by a certain four-letter organization for doing something involving his name, image and likeness. Something that is now legal.
We'll leave it at that.
-- What a remarkable two seasons for Jeremiah Trotter.
Trotter has of course been at Clemson for three seasons, but he played just 59 snaps in 2021 as a freshman behind James Skalski and Baylon Spector.
And it's worth pointing out that he really wasn't firmly on the radar of fans and media entering the 2022 season, either.
Conventional wisdom held that older guys, mainly LaVonta Bentley and Keith Maguire, were ahead of Trotter in the competition to replace Skalski at MIKE backer.
Here's what we wrote in the summer of 2022 as we picked up some highly favorable vibes about Trotter, enough to place him No. 22 in our preseason ranking of the top 25 players on the roster while predicting he had a strong chance to start:
Even in playing sparingly last season, Trotter was remarkably productive in totaling 22 tackles over just 59 snaps. He just looked comfortable out there, and he carried that into the spring game a couple months ago. Our initial list didn't include Trotter and he wasn't even under firm consideration when we began this project. But a number of conversations about this guy's trajectory led us to make a bet on him ending up on this list by the end of the year. As one contact told us: "I'd keep an eye on Jeremiah Trotter. He is going to be a tremendous football player. A great athlete and downhill thumper.
Some might assume this season is LaVonta Bentley's time to ascend to the top spot at MIKE, but we're more partial to Trotter even though Bentley has the advantage in experience. As Wes Goodwin has said, Trotter has been playing MIKE almost since he was in diapers so he has an excellent grasp of what those two positions are supposed to do and how they're supposed to work together. Bentley looks to be a valuable piece and has excellent work ethic, and it should be noted that Keith Maguire will be a factor as well. But to us Trotter is the most fluid, moves so well, and has the most upside.
Trotter ended up starting all 14 games in 2022 and leading the team in tackles with 92, including 13.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks. So yeah, a good bit better than No. 22 on the roster.
He began this season hampered with a hamstring injury suffered during August camp. But once he got past that he was an absolute monster, as he showed in full color starting with the Notre Dame game.
Trotter also played an important leadership role, speaking up in the locker room after the loss at Miami to implore everyone to stick together.
They stuck together -- and stuck it to four straight high-level quarterbacks to close the regular season. Trotter was sensational during that stretch.
All the best to the Philly kid in the NFL. It'll be fun watching him progress.
-- It's wild to see no Clemson player on the All-ACC first or second team.
Not that it's a huge surprise.
But when you're so closely removed from having, say, seven players on the first and second team in 2018, it's a bit jarring.
The Tigers did have three offensive players make the third team in Jake Briningstool, Will Putnam and Blake Miller.
But it's the first time in 21 years that Clemson's offense was shut out on the first and second teams.
In 2002, the Tigers had four representatives on the All-ACC teams and they were all on defense. One of them was current assistant Nick Eason, who was a first-team defensive tackle as a senior.
Our off topics forum
Even in the abysmal offensive season of 2021, the Tigers had tackle Jordan McFadden make the second team. And last year McFadden made the first team, while Will Shipley earned first team for running back, all-purpose back, and special-teams performer.
Maybe 2024 will mark a return to Clemson's offense playing well enough to place a bunch of guys on the All-ACC teams as everyone around here has been used to for so long.
NOTE: As always, please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other message boards or social media, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you.
CONTINUED CYBER MONDAY DEALS on officially-licensed Clemson apparel and gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
By: Larry Williams
A few football-related thoughts and insights on a Wednesday:
-- Xavier Thomas has a little something extra as his college career comes to a close.
Something we didn't even consider until after Thomas took part in the pummelling of South Carolina's offense in Columbia:
Until Saturday, Thomas hadn't played a snap against the Gamecocks in four years.
GIVE A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO TIGERILLUSTRATED.com!
You read that right. The last time he saw the field against South Carolina was in 2019 in Columbia when Will Muschamp was still the Gamecocks' coach, and Trevor Lawrence was a sophomore for the Tigers. Clemson extended its nation's-long winning streak to 27 games that day in a 38-3 yawner.
Two years ago in Columbia, Thomas was a late scratch and the mystery surrounding it created the perception that he was just mailing in the end of his career and protecting himself for the draft, or whatever.
He ended up returning in 2022 but played just 52 snaps in three games because of a foot injury.
And then he came back again in 2023.
Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas is shown here in Death Valley earlier this month ahead of the Tigers' matchup vs. Georgia Tech. (Getty Images)
So yeah, this sixth-year senior was motivated under the lights as he helped Clemson's defense totally shut down the Gamecocks after the first quarter.
And he's not in a hurry to get started on draft prep, going against the grain of current trends here and elsewhere by committing to play in Clemson's bowl game.
Most of you have probably already seen his social-media reply to a fan asking about his plans, but it bears repeating:
"Yessir, one last time. This program has given me everything & more when they could have moved on when I was down & out. I have to give my all in return. Grateful to even be able to play the game of football again. Finishing it out before we head to the league."
What a cool way to cap a rollercoaster career. What a great example of a 5-star talent who uses the college experience to experience immense personal growth.
Oh, and we should point out that his one-game suspension for the trip to Miami wasn't the product of a recent screw-up.
We're told it was a years-old offense that was discovered, and Thomas was punished by a certain four-letter organization for doing something involving his name, image and likeness. Something that is now legal.
We'll leave it at that.
-- What a remarkable two seasons for Jeremiah Trotter.
Trotter has of course been at Clemson for three seasons, but he played just 59 snaps in 2021 as a freshman behind James Skalski and Baylon Spector.
And it's worth pointing out that he really wasn't firmly on the radar of fans and media entering the 2022 season, either.
Conventional wisdom held that older guys, mainly LaVonta Bentley and Keith Maguire, were ahead of Trotter in the competition to replace Skalski at MIKE backer.
Here's what we wrote in the summer of 2022 as we picked up some highly favorable vibes about Trotter, enough to place him No. 22 in our preseason ranking of the top 25 players on the roster while predicting he had a strong chance to start:
Even in playing sparingly last season, Trotter was remarkably productive in totaling 22 tackles over just 59 snaps. He just looked comfortable out there, and he carried that into the spring game a couple months ago. Our initial list didn't include Trotter and he wasn't even under firm consideration when we began this project. But a number of conversations about this guy's trajectory led us to make a bet on him ending up on this list by the end of the year. As one contact told us: "I'd keep an eye on Jeremiah Trotter. He is going to be a tremendous football player. A great athlete and downhill thumper.
Some might assume this season is LaVonta Bentley's time to ascend to the top spot at MIKE, but we're more partial to Trotter even though Bentley has the advantage in experience. As Wes Goodwin has said, Trotter has been playing MIKE almost since he was in diapers so he has an excellent grasp of what those two positions are supposed to do and how they're supposed to work together. Bentley looks to be a valuable piece and has excellent work ethic, and it should be noted that Keith Maguire will be a factor as well. But to us Trotter is the most fluid, moves so well, and has the most upside.
Trotter ended up starting all 14 games in 2022 and leading the team in tackles with 92, including 13.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks. So yeah, a good bit better than No. 22 on the roster.
He began this season hampered with a hamstring injury suffered during August camp. But once he got past that he was an absolute monster, as he showed in full color starting with the Notre Dame game.
Trotter also played an important leadership role, speaking up in the locker room after the loss at Miami to implore everyone to stick together.
They stuck together -- and stuck it to four straight high-level quarterbacks to close the regular season. Trotter was sensational during that stretch.
All the best to the Philly kid in the NFL. It'll be fun watching him progress.
-- It's wild to see no Clemson player on the All-ACC first or second team.
Not that it's a huge surprise.
But when you're so closely removed from having, say, seven players on the first and second team in 2018, it's a bit jarring.
The Tigers did have three offensive players make the third team in Jake Briningstool, Will Putnam and Blake Miller.
But it's the first time in 21 years that Clemson's offense was shut out on the first and second teams.
In 2002, the Tigers had four representatives on the All-ACC teams and they were all on defense. One of them was current assistant Nick Eason, who was a first-team defensive tackle as a senior.
Our off topics forum
Even in the abysmal offensive season of 2021, the Tigers had tackle Jordan McFadden make the second team. And last year McFadden made the first team, while Will Shipley earned first team for running back, all-purpose back, and special-teams performer.
Maybe 2024 will mark a return to Clemson's offense playing well enough to place a bunch of guys on the All-ACC teams as everyone around here has been used to for so long.
NOTE: As always, please do not copy/paste or summarize any portion of this post to other message boards or social media, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you.
CONTINUED CYBER MONDAY DEALS on officially-licensed Clemson apparel and gear at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
