Which of Clemson’s 2026 signees will be the biggest addition next season?
ESPN recently broke down instant-impact players in the 2026 recruiting class, identifying the newcomer for each Power 4 program who could make the biggest impact on their respective team during the 2026 campaign.
For Clemson, ESPN pegged four-star offensive tackle Leo Delaney as that potential impact freshman.
Delaney, listed at 6-foot-6, 295 pounds on his X (formerly Twitter) account, is ranked as high as the No. 72 overall prospect in the country for the 2026 class by ESPN, which touts him as the 10th-best offensive tackle nationally and the fifth-best prospect in the Tar Heel State.
“In 2026, Clemson will be replacing starting tackles Tristan Leigh and Blake Miller, and their two reserves are a redshirt freshman and redshirt sophomore, respectively, so there should be a window of opportunity for Delaney,” ESPN wrote. “If Delaney can gain 20-25 pounds to add additional strength and bulk, his length and athleticism are ready for the Power 4 level.”
A multi-time all-conference selection, Delaney served as a team captain for Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)’s 13-0 state championship squad in his senior season this year. As a junior in 2024, he earned the program’s Charger Award — its highest team honor, which is given to the player who best exemplifies the program’s values on and off the field.
Delaney earned Sophomore All-American status from MaxPreps in 2023 while helping Providence Day to its third straight state title. He also contributed 40 tackles (five for loss) defensively that season.
Delaney, who committed to Clemson back on June 4 and signed on Dec. 3, plans to enroll in January.
“Leo is another big-bodied tackle that we really, really fought hard to get this young man, and really glad that it went our way with him,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said.