CLEMSON — On Thursday, Carter Scruggs became the sixth and final piece of an offensive line class that just might be the best in Clemson history.

While he just announced on Thursday, Scruggs has known for quite some time that he was likely to end up at Clemson. Going all the way back to last summer when he picked up his offer after working out at camp.

However, it was his official visit last weekend that he decided to go ahead and shut things down. Michigan, Penn State and Georgia were scheduled to get official visits this month, but Scruggs knew he had seen enough.

“Honestly, I kind of knew for a while,” Scruggs told The Clemson Insider. “I mean, Clemson was my kind of leader for a while. I didn’t really want to drag it on anymore. I don’t know. I just wanted to make sure, but after that visit, I was 100% sure. I just felt ready.”

“It just felt so real after getting offered at camp. I think they have been the leader since.”

Scruggs called Dabo Swinney on Tuesday to inform the head coach of his decision.

“I called Dabo. He was pumped,” Scruggs said. “He was really excited to have me. And I am really excited for the opportunity.”

After his visit for camp last summer, Scruggs was back on campus for Clemson’s home opener last season against App State and then again for the Elite Retreat in March. Add in the official visit weekend and Scruggs has made four trips to campus in the past year, plenty enough to get an in-depth understanding of the culture Swinney has cultivated inside the program.

“Definitely the culture for me,” Scruggs said. “Just a balance between championship football and academics is really important for me. And then, especially growing holistically, and in religion as well. That’s also really big for me. Just to kind of develop in all three of those spaces. That’s what made me pick Clemson and why they’re special. Why their culture is special.”

Then there is Matt Luke, who has transformed Clemson’s offensive line in one short year. Scruggs has seen that transformation himself and is excited to be a part of it.

“He is just a huge part of it,” Scruggs said. “Honestly, he made me want to go there and be excited about the program. I’ve talked with all the offensive linemen, too. He’s done so much for the O-line room. They have a swagger now. They want to be great.”

Now, Scruggs finds himself part of an offensive line class that is arguably the best in program history. All six members, Braden Wilmes, Adam Guthrie, Grant Wise, Chance Barclay, Leo Delaney and Scruggs, are blue-chip talents.

With the help of the offensive linemen who will still be on the roster, they’re looking to change the reputation of that position group at Clemson, and maybe even win a Joe Moore Award, given annually to the nation’s best offensive line at some point in the future.

“Oh, it means a lot, honestly,” Scruggs said. “To kind of change something that hasn’t really been the best in Clemson for a little while. I know Matt Luke has done a lot for this program in only one year. So, buy your Clemson stock, or whatever. It is only going to get better.”