CLEMSON — Add one more offensive lineman to the list of current commits who are standing by Clemson through the worst of times.

Four-star Carter Scruggs (Loudon County, VA) is now the fifth of the six 2026 offensive line recruits to go on record with TCI regarding the strength of his verbal pledge. While the 3-5 start to the season was something he didn’t envision, Scruggs is still firmly locked in.

“I am definitely surprised,” Scruggs said. “It is obviously not what anyone expected. But it is college football. Anything can happen. We are kind of seeing that happen.”

However, the down season has certainly led some schools to attempt to test the strength of his commitment.

“I have definitely had teams reach out to me,” Scruggs said. “But I have had no interest in any other schools. So, I haven’t really reached back out to them.”

Scruggs committed to the Tigers in early June, going public just after his official visit. He chose Clemson over other finalists Michigan, Penn State and Georgia. In total, he had close to three dozen offers. He ranks No. 168 overall at 247 and No. 9 among all interior linemen in his class.

On top of having multiple family members who attended the school, the 6-foot-6, 295-pound prospect also wants to play for offensive line coach Matt Luke.

“It was a huge factor,” Scruggs said. “The role that he is going to be playing at Clemson is a huge one. Just developing offensive linemen. That was a huge factor in why I committed. I think that is what is really going to take them over the little hump of the past five years or whatever.”

“I just want to be developed. The impact he has already made in his first two seasons of being there and not even having his own guys, but that is going to be a huge piece for Clemson in getting them back.”

Scruggs’ high school team is currently 8-1, having already locked up a conference championship. However, he is aiming for something bigger in a state title, and he believes they currently have the team capable of winning one.

Living so far away, and with his team looking to make a deep run, it’s been a little harder for Scruggs to get to campus as often as some of the other commits who live closer by. He was on hand for the season opener against LSU, but outside of his high school season ending prematurely, he’s not likely to make it back until he enrolls in January.

Scruggs is watching on from afar, and despite the Tigers’ current struggles, he is as committed now as he was the day he informed the staff of his decision back in June.

“First of all, this season doesn’t impact my decision at all,” Scruggs said. “Obviously, it was cool having them in the national championship talk, but that had no say. No matter how this season went, I am sticking with the Tigers.”

Outside of wanting to play for Luke, Scruggs feels like he is a perfect fit for the culture at Clemson and he can’t wait to officially become a part of it.

“It’s the culture there,” Scruggs said. “I know everybody likes to say that, but it really is the culture there. It is like no other. Having a chance to make an early impact is important for me, as well, and I feel like I am going to have a chance to do that.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright