Xavier Thomas Out for the Tigers and the Cardinals
LOUISVILLE—The Tigers will be without starting defensive end Xavier Thomas after Thomas suffered a concussion in practice earlier this week.
Thomas in 2019 had recorded four tackles (1.5 for loss) with a half-sack vs. Georgia Tech … added two tackles including a half-sack vs. No. 12 Texas A&M … made three tackles, including his first full sack of the season, at Syracuse … contributed two tackles (one for loss) vs. Charlotte … added five tackles and contributed to the game-winning stop on a two-point conversion attempt at North Carolina … made one tackle and rushed for one yard on his first career rushing attempt vs. Florida State.
According the head coach Dabo Swinney, Thomas is one of the best overall athletes on the entire team.
"He's probably ahead of Isaiah Simmons as a red-shirt freshman but more like Isaiah was as a sophomore," head coach Dabo Swinney said. "He makes plays when he's in the wrong spot. He got a minus on the two-point play but ... what a play. He made a play. That's who he is. That's what he is. Very few people can do that. It's little things. He is made of the right stuff. He's fast, he's explosive and plays with great effort. You love those things because you can coach the rest. What he has you cannot coach. He's just a freaky athlete. He has improved all year."
A timeline for his return is unclear.
The loss of Thomas will mean increased playing time for one of the most improved players—K.J. Henry.
"K.J. Henry is probably the most improved guy," Swinney said. "I'm super pumped about K.J. Henry. He has transformed himself over where he was last year. He's very self-aware. He comes from a very good football foundation. He was more of a basketball guy. K.J. needed to develop physically but he was already in a good place mentally. He's playing faster and freely."
