Xavier Thomas, Bryan Bresee still working back to full go

Clemson defensive linemen Bryan Bresee and Xavier Thomas are both back on the field after missing time earlier in the season.

Neither player is 100 percent, though, entering Saturday’s game against Syracuse.

Bresee has missed three games this year. The first came against Louisiana Tech after his sister Ella Bresee passed away from cancer. He then missed games against NC State and Boston College while dealing with a non-football medical issue.

Bresee played 22 snaps this past Saturday as Clemson played at Florida State, but he did not record a stat.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said during his press conference on Tuesday that the junior is still working his way back into football shape.

“He’s 100 percent cleared, and I mean it was good for him last week. He’s obviously working his way back into full shape. I mean he’s missed a lot [of time], right?” Swinney said.

Bresee not only missed three games, but he also missed practices during those three weeks. The former No. 1 overall recruit should continue to get better and better as the second half of the season goes along.

“Now he’s good. All of that’s behind him. So now it’s just getting back into a rhythm and flow of things and having normal practice weeks and just getting back to playing some ball,” Swinney said. “He’s playing himself back into full shape, but it won’t take him long.”

As for Thomas, he missed the first five Clemson games of the season after suffering a broken foot during fall camp.

The senior played six snaps against Boston College on Oct. 8 in his first action of the season, recording two sacks in limited playing time.

His snap count was upped to 32 this past weekend. Thomas had a pair of tackles and a quarterback hurry against the Seminoles but left the game late as he was dealing with soreness.

“He was sore, as you would expect, but he’s doing good. He’s on track. He’s healing as he goes more and more,” Swinney said. “He’s going to keep getting better as he goes. But certainly he was sore, for sure.”

Like Bresee, Swinney expects Thomas to continue to improve as the year goes along.

“We’ve got him on a plan and kind of how we practice him and get him ready week in and week out,” Swinney said. “But I think you’ll see him continue to get better and better as he goes throughout the latter half of the season.