Kadin Thomas is anxious for his junior year of high school to get started.

The in-state QB (Cheraw), whose father played a season at Clemson under Danny Ford back in the 1980s, is expected to be the full-time starter when the Braves kick off the season. It’s the opportunity Smith has patiently waited on.

“I feel like this is what I’ve been working to since my freshman year,” Smith told The Clemson Insider. “I think I’m ready for this opportunity. The expectations that I got, if we can exceed those expectations, that’s all we need.”

Thomas has been camping at Clemson since he was a youngster. This summer was the first time that he chose to do a three-day camp though, and it is a decision he is glad he made.

“I went to 10 or 12 camps and that’s the best one I went to so far,” Thomas said. “It gives you a lot of experience. They have a lot of knowledge for the game. The one-on-one coaching, they get into coaching you and it really helps you get experience.”

After the camp was over, offensive analyst Tajh Boyd told him the staff liked what they saw and that he was a player they’d be watching throughout his junior season.

“Tajh Boyd came up to me after camp and told me they were going to keep an eye on me,” he said. “I was surprised. That’s probably the best camp I’ve had all summer. I feel like any camp I go to, I always strive to be the most dominant there. I think that’s what I did. I am going to outwork anybody.”

Thomas also camped at Duke and NC State, as well as making stops at UNC-Greensboro and Newberry, among others. Due to his impressive GPA, every school in the Ivy League has been in contact.

While the offers have yet to start coming in, the interest is there. He received lots of positive feedback at all the camps he attended and coaches are just waiting to see what he does during his junior campaign.

As he just begins the recruiting process, Thomas does know what it is he is looking for in a school.

“How are they going to make me better coming into the program,” Thomas added. “How am I going to make myself better. And how are they going to be as a program in the future. And academics wise, I want to get a good education, where ever I go.”

However, having grown up at fan of Clemson, and with his dad having played there, it’s an opportunity to suit up and play for the Tigers that is at the top of Thomas’ wish list.

“I mean, that’s been the dream since I started playing football,” Thomas said. “Go to college, play football, and that’s my dream school. I would probably commit on the spot, to be honest. I’ve always dreamed of playing there. And my pops played there for a little bit. He played in college. So that’s the dream school right there. That’s the dream.”

Photo courtesy of Kadin Thomas

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