Clemson defensive lineman Xavier Thomas during a 2019 game. Clemson Georgia Tech 1half
Clemson football has had a breakout star each year for as long as we can remember – a player that seemingly comes out of nowhere and takes the country by storm.
Over the last decade, Clemson football has had guys like Vic Beasley, Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, Isaiah Simmons, and Cornell Powell come out of nowhere in their third, fourth, or fifth seasons wearing orange and purple and go on to stardom.
While the Tigers have other stars – Deshaun Watson, Christian Wilkins, Trevor Lawrence, etc, those guys were highly ranked coming into college and lived up to the expectations set before them.