UMass Holds Special Place For 2028 MA CB Xavier Thomas

2028 Springfield Central High School cornerback Xavier Thomas was in Amherst last week and expects to be back again soon.

L-R: 2028 CB Xavier Thomas, Joe Harasymiak, 2028 CB Anthony Whaley

Xavier Thomas’ first offer still matters, and a recent return trip to Amherst only reinforced why he is keeping UMass near the top of his early board.

The 2028 Massachusetts cornerback was back on campus last week for Junior Day, getting another look at the program and spending extended time with the staff.

“It was good,” Thomas told Minuteman Command. “We toured the facilities and stuff, and then I went to the basketball game.”

UMass remains one of three offers Thomas holds, along with Syracuse and Rhode Island.

The visit gave Thomas time to sit down with UMass defensive backs coach Donald Celiscar to dig into scheme details.

“I was in there for hours,” he said. “He was just talking to me about Football 101 and the schemes they run and the defenses they run.”

Scheme fit probably won’t be a deciding factor this early, with Thomas focusing more on comfort with the people and what he is being asked to do.

“I like it,” he said. “Whatever scheme they got, I’ve got to play in, so I’m fine with it.”

The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from Springfield Central High School said he liked what he saw inside the facility and came away comfortable with the way the day was structured.

“I liked it in the locker room,” Thomas said. “It was fun.”

Thomas also spent time with head coach Joe Harasymiak, who he said walked him through how the staff sees the process moving forward.

“He was talking to me about the recruiting process,” Thomas said. “If they had a spot and I could come in right now, he’d let me.”

Thomas knows former Central stars and new UMass players Pop Watson and Joe Griffin, relationships that have helped him keep perspective as his recruitment continues to expand.

“Pop is like my big cousin,” Thomas said. “I’ve known him since I was little, five years old.”

Hearing from familiar faces has mattered as he processes UMass being the first school to offer.

“It means a lot because they’re telling me UMass is a place,” Thomas said. “It’s a good place. I think UMass will always be in my top three. That was my first offer.”

When asked what other schools he is watching closely right now, Thomas pointed to Syracuse.

Looking ahead, he expects to be back in Amherst again.

“I’m going up in the spring. Then I’ll go to another game in the fall.”

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