Being an offensive lineman is not an easy job. Their primary role is to hit the guy in front of them.

“We have a hard game, boys, and it needs to be fun as much as it can,” Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell said. “It is a hard, hard game. Everybody else gets to kick it, shoot it, throw it and do something. But we don’t get to do nothing but hit stuff.”

As Caldwell says, “It’s just the nature of the spot.” That’s why playing on the offensive line is the team within the team and is considered the ultimate team when they play as one on the offensive line.

“We know our name is not going to be in the paper,” said Caldwell, “but it is hard to run an off-tackle play without a tackle.”

The Tigers are close to having to do just that, sort of. With Isaiah Battle now prepping for training camp with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, Clemson will be searching for a few more bodies to replace him at left tackle.

As expected, true freshman Mitch Hyatt is listed as the starter on Clemson’s updated summer depth chart, while senior Eric Mac Lain, who is listed as the starter at left guard, will back Hyatt up. Joe Gore is still the starter at right tackle with true freshman Jake Fruhmorgen listed as the No. 2 right tackle.

“We have a little flexibility,” Caldwell said. “Joe Gore has played both sides. Jake Fruhmorgen is one that mentally can handle both sides. I can’t remember if I put him there in the spring or not, but I know he loves that. I practiced him setting up, starting with his left foot.”

Caldwell says his choices at tackle don’t end with Hyatt, Mac Lain, Gore and Fruhmorgen. He said he can use Maverick Morris there, as well as Taylor Hearn, who started at Clemson at the tackle position, and another true freshman, Noah Green.

“We have a little flexibility,” the veteran coach said. “I have complete faith in them. We will find the right combination.”

Caldwell, who is now entering his fifth season at Clemson, as well as head coach Dabo Swinney expressed their confidence in those they do have to play on the offensive line. Swinney says they have more guys on the offensive line that fit what they really want to be than they ever have before.

“We are just in a different spot there,” Swinney said.

It helps guys like Hyatt, Fruhmorgen and Green enrolled at Clemson in January and participated in spring drills.

“We are going to mix and match them and put them everywhere we can and try to shake out the best five. That’s who will start the game,” Caldwell said. “That’s kind of the way we will approach it here.”

Hyatt’s main assignment this summer was to bulk up and get a little bit bigger and stronger.

“He has all the tools,” Caldwell said. “Strength and bulk, he’s done that. He is getting bigger. Obviously, you don’t automatically become a 400-pound bencher in a year. That’s an aspect of the game, because you use your hands so much, that upper body strength is important. It’s not the most important factor but it is important.

“He has come a long way. He and Jake both, along with Noah, have all gotten bigger and stronger. I’m speaking of them only because they have all played the tackle position. They have the athleticism to get it done. I’m excited about where we are. I love where they are mentality. They know where they are and they understand.”

They understand being an offensive lineman is not an easy job, and though it can be fun, it’s a tough game.