A win is a win in college football, but the Clemson offensive line has a lot to figure out after the Gator Bowl victory. Let’s start with giving the Tigers some grace because changing coaches before a game is difficult and Matt Luke should coach this group up well heading into 2024.

That said, it was ugly in EverBank Stadium. According to PFF, the Clemson front gave up 26 pressures over 55 passing opportunities. Nearly half of quarterback Cade Klubnik’s dropbacks led to some kind of disruption, and he was sacked eight times.

It might just be a miracle that the Tigers’ found a rhythm and scored 38 points. In the run game, Phil Mafah and Will Shipley combined for 4.5 yards per carry so that’s the positive up front.

Looking to next season, Clemson has its work cut out for them even with returning talent up front. The loss of Will Putnam cannot be overstated as losing a veteran starter at center won’t be easy to mitigate.

The good news is Marcus Tate and Walker Parks will be back from injury and that secures both guard spots. Ryan Linthicum could end up the new starter at center and having those two next to him will make a world of difference.

It’s important to mention the positives that came from unfortunate injuries this season. The likes of Harris Sewell and Trent Howard got an abundance of reps. Luke has options next season when crafting this starting front.

The starting both return with Tristan Leigh and Blake Miller. Both are sophomore with plenty of time to learn and grow in the system. Looking at the 2024 recruiting class, Clemson has four new additions to mix in.

While Friday’s performance was concerning up front, the Tigers found a way to win with it so imagine the heights a strong offensive line under Luke can bring. The talent is there to do so in 2024.