Credit: Scout.com

Adam WellsFeatured ColumnistApril 8, 2017

Xavier Thomas, one of the top defensive end recruits in the 2018 class, will play college football at Clemson University.

He announced his pledge to the Tigers on social media Saturday morning:

The rise of dominant pass-rushers at every level of football has changed the game, with teams looking to get more versatile and athletic up front to attack the quarterback.

Thomas has all the tools schools look for in dominant defensive linemen. According to Scout, he’s a 5-star prospect, the No. 1 defensive end from his home state of Florida, the No. 2 player at his position overall and the No. 6 player in the 2018 class.

Its scouting report for Thomas is just as glowing as those ratings indicate:

Thomas is a force at defensive end. He has an explosive first step and is extremely athletic. Thomas plays fast, but under control. He has a high football I.Q. and does a great job of putting himself in position to make plays. He is also relentless and takes good angles when pursuing the football. He needs to continue to improve his technique and develop some moves, but he’s undoubtedly one of the top players in the country regardless of class and has a chance to be a special player at the collegiate level.

The fact Thomas can still tweak things like his technique and vary his moves speaks to how high his already-large ceiling is.

It’s hardly a surprise he chose to play for head coach Dabo Swinney. The Tigers have been arguably the nation’s best program for the last three seasons, playing in two national title games and winning over the undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Beyond the team’s overall performance, the Tigers have done an outstanding job of finding and developing talent on the defensive line. When Vic Beasley Jr. left after the 2014 season, Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd replaced him. After that, Christian Wilkins, Carlos Watkins and Dexter Lawrence took over.

Swinney has an embarrassment of riches to play with now, as Thomas is just another elite edge-rusher he can use to overwhelm opposing quarterbacks and shut down the running game.

Defensive players don’t come in much better packages. Thomas is 6’3″ and 263 pounds with room to add more bulk to his frame, but he’s already strong enough to compete against offensive linemen at the next level.

As Thomas gains experience, he is going to be one of the most dominant and imposing forces in college football.

For more news, rumors and related stories about the future of Tigers football, check out the college football recruiting and Clemson streams on Bleacher Report’s app.