Swinney on dramatic impact of eligibility change on Thomas, others

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney believes many college athletes around the nation will benefit from the NCAA’s decision to give all fall sport athletes, even those who compete this season, an extra year of eligibility.

Junior defensive end Xavier Thomas is one of the Tigers who has an opportunity to reap the benefits of the NCAA’s eligibility extension, which was voted on by the Division I board of directors last week.

The Tigers had been planning to redshirt Thomas this season, as he had COVID-19 earlier this summer and dealt with some complications from it. The plan for the Tigers was to hold Thomas out until the end of the season and then play him in the four games that athletes are allowed…