Mike Jones and Xavier Thomas, two of the country’s top prospects and headlining members of Clemson’s 2018 class who play together at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., are contributing a diary to The Clemson Insider.
In the latest installment, the Clemson commits talk about their senior season, their upcoming visit to Clemson, who they are recruiting to join the Tigers’ 2018 class and more:
On their senior season at IMG Academy
Mike: It’s been really fun. It’s just good to be able to see how we’ve fought through all this adversity, the storm (Hurricane Irma) that knocked us off for a couple weeks. We bounced back, played a really good Miami Central team with loaded D-I athletes. We’ve played a lot of great competition over the last few weeks. It’s good to see how we’ve stayed tough and just continued to fight.
Xavier: I’m impressed with how we bounced back and we stayed focus and locked in on the season. We have a big game this week (at East High in Salt Lake City, Utah). I feel like this will be one of the best teams we’ve played this season. Everybody has to play their assignments and be locked in and focused in Utah.
On how they spent their bye week last week
Mike: I was with my family since we didn’t have a game. My people moved down here. We were just in town. My sister had a volleyball tournament in Miami, so that was a cool experience, something to do to get away from the game a little bit, let my body heal.
Xavier: I stayed here (at IMG). I didn’t go home or anything. I stayed here and practiced and worked out. I still let my body heal and I did treatment, but I just stayed put.
On upcoming visit to Clemson for the Georgia Tech game
Mike: We’ve been to plenty of games, been up there plenty of times. I’m just ready to see how these guys respond to a little adversity. I want to watch them dominate Georgia Tech because my roommate (TK Chimedza) is committed to Georgia Tech. I’d like to see no mercy, domination, 21-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Xavier: I love the night games, so I’m ready to experience that again. There’s nothing like those. But I’m just ready for Clemson to bounce back and see how they do after they lost. Just want them to prove everyone wrong.
On who they are recruiting
Mike: Cade Mays to Clemson. That’s all I got to say.
Xavier: The main ones I’m working on for 2018 right now is K.J. Henry, I’m working on Jamaree Salyer still, and Jackson Carman, and I’ve been talking to Patrick Surtain also. But for the future, for 2019, I’ve been recruiting guys here — Nolan Smith, D-end, Trey Sanders, running back, and Noah Cain.
On how excited they are to sign with Clemson in December
Mike: I’ve been thinking about this day since freshman year. Just ready to step onto the next level. It’s crazy that it’s really flown by this fast. We have two more games after this weekend. It’s coming fast. I’m excited, but I’m also just trying to cherish everything that I’ve got right now before moving on to the next phase of life.
Xavier: I have been very excited ever since coming back (to IMG) from the summer. Of course we were excited for this IMG season, but I’ve just been ready to get there so I can grind and work my way back up and make an immediate impact.
In case you missed it, here are the previous installments of TCI’s diary with Mike and Xavier: