CHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts – Dabo Swinney had to convince defensive end Xavier Thomas to make the trip to Boston, and even then, Thomas wasn’t convinced he would be able to play against Boston College. He wound up playing six plays but had two sacks and later wore the famed leather helmet.
Thomas was the winner of the McFadden-O'Rourke Leather Helmet Award, given each year to the MVP of the Clemson-Boston College Game. Thomas went out with a broken bone in his foot during fall camp and missed the first five games of the season as he rehabbed.