Report: Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas out vs. Miami

The Clemson Tigers will be without one of their most dominant pass rushers on Saturday evening against Miami. Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas is out for tonight’s game against the Hurricanes, according to Larry Williams.

Thomas has dealt with a number of injuries over the years, but when healthy and on the field, he’s been one of the Tigers’ biggest disruptors on the defensive side of the football.

He’d already racked up two sacks thus far in the 2023 campaign for the Tigers. He’s had 3.5 sacks in three different seasons for Clemson during his career (this is his sixth year there).

During his freshman year with the Tigers, he brought home freshman All-American honors. In 2019 and 2021, Thomas also earned third team All-ACC honors.

Clemson had too many turnovers on Saturday night

Costly turnovers have been an ugly theme for the Clemson Tigers for much of their 2023 campaign. On Saturday evening, they reared their ugly head yet again at the most inopportune of times. The Tigers were driving and ready to punch in an early touchdown, but Clemson running back Will Shipley fumbled right before he crossed the goal line, and the Hurricanes recovered. Early in the second quarter, Tigers’ head coach Dabo Swinney voiced his frustration with the early turnovers to Taylor Tannebaum of the ACC Network.

What more can his offense do to get some rhythm going?

“Hang on to the ball. I mean, you can’t have a better drive than what we had right there. Your best players have to play well. We’ve gotta finish. Simple as that. It was a great drive. We had the play there. Missed a few plays. And then they made one play where fit it up right and make the tackle, Long game to go. We’ve got to settle in and we’ve got to find a way to overcome it,” Swinney explained.

After Swinney spoke with Tannebaum, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik proceeded to fumble, with Miami recovering. Swinney was clearly livid on the sideline as Klubnik trotted to the Tigers’ sideline.

Clemson turned the football over three times in the first half and paid the dear price for it in the end.

Miami defeated Clemson 28-20 in double overtime on Saturday. Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool carried the Tigers on Saturday night. He turned in a career-night, hauling in five catches for 126 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik did throw for over 300 yards, but he also had two very costly turnovers. The Tigers’ rushing attack only managed 31 yards on 34 carries.

The loss means that Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney will have to wait a week before becoming the school’s outright leader in wins. He’s currently tied with Frank Howard for the most in Tigers history with 165 wins.

Clemson currently sits at 2-3 in conference and 4-3 overall. The schedule doesn’t get any easier the rest of the way for the Tigers. Next week, they’ll face N.C. State. Then, on November 4th, they’ll face Notre Dame. Then, on November 18th, they’ll face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

We’ll have to see if they can ever get their turnover issues under control, because it’s certainly been a theme that has cost them dearly in multiple games this season.