By Kaila Burns-Heffner.

Clemson has returned from a short break and are heading into the homestretch of its spring practice season. So far in spring ball, the coaches have become encouraged by one position in particular that was consistently questioned throughout the previous season — the offensive line.

Although the line has lost a few players due to graduation and unforeseen circumstances, the coaches and veteran players are confident in the amount of talent that has showed up to compete for the job.

“As coaches we’re really pleased that there’s a lot of competition. When you have a lot of competition, the guys pay a little more attention in meetings, and the attention, effort and everything in practice is a little better,” said co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott.

“The guys are a fun group to coach right now.”

The coaches are very content with the competition occurring at all of the positions in this spring, but they have become particularly encouraged by the their core group of offensive linemen and the younger talent behind them.

Ryan Norton, Eric Mac Lain, Joe Gore, and Isaiah Battle are veterans to the line, but Scott praised the four new enrollees: Mitch Hyatt, Jake Fruhmorgen, Zach Giella, Noah green as well as the second-year guys: Tyrone Crowder, Maverick Morris, Justin Falcinelli and Taylor Hearn for working hard and working well together.

“There are eight guys all within their first two years. Since I’ve been here in 2008, I haven’t seen a core like that and I’m not talking about just their ability,” said Scott. “They’re very talented ability wise but they’re just hungry, have work ethic, no drama, high character, and all of a sudden, it kind of transforms some of the older guys too.”

Norton, a redshirt junior, credits some of the offensive line’s success on the bond the group has.

“We’re all really good friends. We talk a lot and have a group chat text message and the slogan, ‘Beard Gang’,” said Norton.

Norton believes the unique cohesiveness between the offensive linemen translates into better practice, and head coach Dabo Swinney agrees.

“Just the chemistry, the cohesiveness of that group. They’re a group right now that looks confident. They look like they’re having fun and they know what they’re doing,” the Clemson coach said. “I’m just very encouraged at this point and the guys behind them are just all talented, athletic and hungry.”

This type of confidence in the offensive line has not been seen for a while in Clemson thanks to a season full of unpredictable injuries and illnesses, and it is encouraging for the upcoming season. With so much talent available, the focus of the remainder of the spring season will be to develop the younger players so that the offensive line will have all the depth that they are capable of having.

“Its just an impressive array of young guys,” said Swinney. “That’s more the group that we have to figure out and I think we’ve just got to go play.”