CLEMSON — Xavier Thomas could hardly sleep Wednesday night.

Clemson’s former defensive end was so anxious to show the NFL scouts what he can do at Clemson’s Pro Day, he could not close his eyes.

“It is a surreal experience. I was supposed to be a three-(years)-and-out guy after the first couple of years I had here,” Thomas said. “Then 2020 hit, but it was all a blessing in disguise in regard to my journey and what I had to go through.

“I am glad it went the way it did because I would not have been ready to go if I did go three and out. I probably would have lasted two years in the league. I was not a grown man, yet. I was still a kid.”

Thomas proved he was no kid during his workouts Thursday at the Poe Indoor Practice Facility. He officially ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash, while also recording an impressive 1.55 in his 10-yard split.

“I wanted to run a 4.4, but it is all good,” he said. “My legs locked up on me on the first run again. But it has nothing to do with it. I was extra hydrated and everything, but I just got too excited, and my legs locked up on me. That’s all.”

Thomas had the same thing happen to him at the NFL Combined a couple of weeks back. He ran a 4.6 in the 40 that day due to cramping.

“When you are running through cramps, you really cannot focus on the run,” he said. “You are just trying to really just get through the run. You really can’t focus on your technique in regard to keeping your head down and those types of things. Just the things you train for.

“It was real frustrating, but it’s all good.”

It was good. Thomas also had a broad jump of 10.0 feet.

In all, all 32 NFL teams were at Clemson to watch Thomas along with former Tigers Tyler Davis, Sheridan Jones, Justin Mascoll, Ruke Orhorhoro, Jalyn Phillips, Will Putnam, Will Shipley and Nate Wiggins.

Former linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was also in attendance, but he did not work out. He will hold a private workout on April 9.

As for Thomas, the last two months have been a surreal experience for him, especially when he has spoken with NFL teams.

“They all want to understand my journey and why I was here so long in regard to what I had to go through,” he said. “It has really been just explaining that, and that is the main thing they wanted to know. How did I get out of that? What did I learn and those types of things.”

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27.

–photo by Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY NETWORK

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