Five-star defensive end Xavier Thomas (6-foot-3, 249 pounds, Florence, SC) is easily one of the most sought after recruits of the 2018 recruiting class. Thomas is ranked the No. 1 overall recruit by ESPN for that class, and every major program in the southeast has a hope at landing the dynamic defensive end.
According to ESPN, though, they predict Thomas to land at one school that would certainly set the recruiting world on fire: South Carolina.
From ESPN: (Insider only)
It's still early in the process for the top-ranked player in the 2018 recruiting class, but two in-state schools, South Carolina and Clemson, will most certainly be in the mix for this talented prospect. Thomas has already visited South Carolina (twice), Alabama, Clemson and Georgia this season and gave glowing reviews of a recent trip to Columbia to see South Carolina beat Missouri.
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247Sports currently has Thomas split between Clemson and South Carolina, and his commitment would be a major win for both Will Muschamp or Dabo Swinney.
However, there is always the danger that Thomas could go out of state, and schools like Alabama, Florida State, and Georgia are going to be trying to snag Thomas away from Carolina country. They will have their shot, too, as there is still a ton of time between now and 2018 National Signing Day.
