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1. The biggest news of the week, of course, is that the status of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star defensive end commitment Xavier Thomas hasn’t changed.

Thomas (6-3, 265), ranked No. 5 nationally by Rivals.com, spent a long three-day weekend in Clemson for the Auburn triumph a week ago, witnessing the Tigers’ celebrated 11-sack performance.

That Thomas has appeared arguably Clemson’s most vocal and impacting recruiter within the class stood to further support the stability of his pledge.

Then Thomas went home to spend time with family for the week in Florence.

We can tell you that related directly to our tracking the strength of his commitment by week’s end.

But Thomas spoke with Clemson’s staff, and as we reported Friday morning, this particular fire had been put out.

Four-star linebacker commitment Mike Jones stayed with family in Greenville during the week, and the two stopped by Clemson on Friday afternoon en route back to IMG. They did not meet with any coaches.

There are no more hotly contested recruitments than for blue-chip defensive linemen, and this one has always projected to be among them.