Xavier Thomas says no to Joyner, Gamecocks' coaches

Xavier Thomas said he is firm in his commitment to Clemson.

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Mon Jul 03 17:57:29 GMT-05:00 2017

BEAVERTON, OR – Every Tweet and every social media post that Xavier Thomas makes is watched by Clemson fans and college football fans, but the nation’s top recruit can’t always be taken seriously.

After Fort Dorchester quarterback Dakereon Joyner committed to South Carolina earlier this month, he made that statement that he was out to flip Thomas from the Tigers to the Gamecocks.

While Thomas responded to the comments on social media, he told TigerNet at Nike’s The Opening Finals that it was all in good fun and just a joke between friends.

“I tell Clemson fans all of the time that they don't have anything to worry about. Dakereon, I've been close with him since my ninth grade year so it's all fun with him. I'm going to tease him a little bit, but I'm not going to flip,” Thomas told TigerNet Monday afternoon.

Thomas said the reason Joyner wants him to flip is that the future Gamecock signal caller doesn’t want to look across the line of scrimmage and see him lined up at defensive end.

“He doesn't want that (to be playing Clemson with Thomas on the team) which is why he's trying to get me to come to USC,” Thomas said with a laugh. “It's going to be a good rivalry.”

The Bradenton (FL) IMG star said he still hears from the South Carolina coaches on a regular basis, but a return visit isn’t even in the realm of possibility.

"I don't think so because returning for a visit would create a lot of ruckus that's unnecessary," he said. "I still hear from them - Coach (Lance) Thompson and Coach (Will) Muschamp - about every week. They contact me a lot. They just keep telling me that they're still there and that it's still early in the process. I kind of lay off of all of that because I'm really solid in my commitment. They contact me but I don't contact them back."

While his Tweets usually cause a fall out from Clemson and South Carolina fans, this week it was a hit Thomas put on an offensive lineman during one-on-one drills that created a social buzz.

"It was kind of fun," he said. "I was getting a lot of critics because people we're saying that you're not supposed to bull rush with no pads on, but if the o-lineman would've pancaked me then it would've been all over social media and they would've been all over me. It's nice seeing the reaction to it."

Thomas is playing the role of lead recruiter while in Oregon, trying to attract the top uncommitted prospects to join him at Clemson.

“It's great. I've been talking to those guys who will be my future teammates, but I'm also trying to get Jamaree Salyer and Nolan Smith and Jackson Carman,” he said. “There are plenty of guys. Patrick Surtain. Anthony Cook. I can name a lot. I'm also trying to get Justyn Ross, especially. I'm trying to get all of those guys to come be great at Clemson.”