After missing most of the 2022 season due to injury, Xavier Thomas returned for a sixth season in the program, taking advantage of the extra years the NCAA has been giving out since COVID-19 rocked the sports world in 2020.
Can we assume that he’ll be successful because he’s back? Injuries have been an issue for Thomas throughout his career, but he’s been striving to establish himself as a Day One edge rusher in the NFL Draft.
As a freshman, Thomas showed promise but had to wait behind the Power Rangers. He gained weight in his sophomore year to become the ideal NFL defensive end, but it affected his speed. COVID and strep throat also impacted his performance in 2020.
Nevertheless, he looked impressive in his limited playing time last season and even won Player of the Game against Boston College on only six snaps.
In 2022, Thomas was prepared for what he thought would be his last year playing for Orange. However, he experienced another setback when he broke his foot during preseason camp. Later in the year, he re-injured his foot during practice before the Notre Dame game. As a result, he had to undergo surgery and could not continue playing for the remainder of the season.
Thomas is one of the few players with preseason honors, and if he fulfills the high expectations, he could be an early first-round pick come next April.