Looking Ahead: 2025 Clemson OL Room
By: Jason Priester January 20, 2025

The effect Matt Luke had on the Clemson offensive line can not be understated.

The transformation seen during his first year with the Tigers was noticeable, from both a physical standpoint and mentally. There was just a different kind of mindset inside that room, helping lead to more success on the field.

Not to say there isn’t still room for improvement, because there is. Particularly in the running game. However, it’s hard to call Luke’s first season anything but a rousing success.

Looking ahead to next season, with all the experience Luke has coming back, there should only be more improvement. Clemson returns four starters, only needing to replace Marcus Tate, who served as the left guard last season.

Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh return at the two tackle spots. Walker Parks, who can play both guard and tackle, will play a sixth and final season and Ryan Linthicum returns at center. Linthicum was pretty solid in his first season starting.

As far as replacing Tate, the Tigers have options. Harris Sewell has played more than 1,000 snaps across his first two seasons and only gets better the more he plays. Colin Sadler should be fully healthy after missing most of the 2024 campaign injured. Sadler has six starts under his belt, three at tackle and three at guard. Then there’s Elyjah Thurmon, who was exceptional as a true freshman before his season ended prematurely due to an injury.

Another positive is the depth the Tigers should have next season. After seeing several offensive linemen go down to season-ending injuries in 2024, we saw exactly how important having some functional depth is.

Ronan O’ Connell, Mason Wade and Watson Young all redshirted last season. With a year under their belts, each should take a jump next season. Wade is definitely a name worth watching in the spring and fall.

Dietrick Pennington is a player with a high ceiling who missed pretty much the entire season in 2024. If he’s fully healthy, maybe Luke can get the best out of him. Ian Reed, who has dealt with both injury and illness across his first two seasons with the program, just needs to catch a break.

Then there are the incoming freshmen. Clemson signed five in December, including Brayden Jacobs, who Dabo Swinney called the best tackle prospect he’s ever signed. Considering some of the players to have come through the program, that is high praise. He was the second-highest rated player the Tigers signed.

Easton Ware is another name to know. He’s certainly talented enough to work himself into the two-deep.

Rowan Byrne, Tucker Kattus and Gavin Blanchard are the other three signees. It’s arguably one of the better group of offensive linemen signed by Clemson. It’s definitely one of the deepest groups. Kattus, who the Tigers flipped late in the cycle from Kentucky, is the only one that didn’t enroll early.

2025 Offensive Line Room

  • Walker Parks (6th Yr Sr)
  • Tristan Leigh (R-Sr)
  • Dietrick Pennington (R-Sr)
  • Ryan Linthicum (R-Sr)
  • Blake Miller (Sr)
  • Dietrick Pennington (R-Sr)
  • Colin Sadler (R-Jr)
  • Harris Sewell (Jr)
  • Ian Reed (R-So)
  • Elyjah Thurmon (So)
  • Watson Young (R-Fr)
  • Ronan O’ Connell (R-Fr)
  • Mason Wade (R-Fr)
  • Brayden Jacobs (Fr)
  • Easton Ware (Fr)
  • Gavin Blanchard (Fr)
  • Rowan Byrne (Fr)
  • Tucker Kattus (Fr)

Outlook: One thing is certain and that is the Tigers have far more depth than they are accustomed to having. If no one leaves after the spring, there will be 18 scholarship offensive linemen in that room. Add in that you have four very experienced starters returning, and there is a lot to like about what Clemson will have up front in 2025. If, as expected, this group takes another step under the guidance of Luke, it should be the best offensive line in the ACC.