CLEMSON — While Luke Thayer is preparing to play his final high school season later this year, his recruitment is really just getting started.

The in-state offensive lineman, out of South Florence, earned a starting spot during certain formations during his sophomore season when the Bruins won a 4A state title, before starting full-time in 2025. He was an anchor up front for a team that made another run to the state title game.

Thayer recently made a stop at Clemson, the 6-foot-4, 280-pound center’s first time visiting the school.

“The biggest thing that stood out to me was probably the amount of money they put into that place,” Thayer told The Clemson Insider. “I did not realize how nice that place was. I walked in, and I was hit with great hospitality. The indoor practice facility was nice. Everything was right there, everything was within walking distance. The locker room was nice. Definitely a top-notch facility.”

Thayer attended a spring practice before the Tigers broke for spring break, while also getting to chat it up with head coach Dabo Swinney and offensive line coach Matt Luke.

“I spent a little bit of time with Coach Luke,” he said. “We really just talked about what it takes to play at Clemson, the offense they run. I had a short conversation with Dabo Swinney.”

Thayer has visited Furman and Charleston Southern. The Buccaneers handed him his very first offer during that visit. He also has stops scheduled with Mercer and West Georgia, and he’s been working on setting a date with Virginia.

Now that Thayer’s got that first one, he’s hoping to add a few more. Clemson has sent him the schedule for Dabo Swinney’s high school camp in June, and while he hasn’t locked in a date, he is planning to come and work out.

The goal is to add one of those hard-to-get offers from Clemson, and he is willing to put in the work to earn one.

“It would mean everything,” Thayer said. “I would be on the verge of shutting down my recruitment right there if they offered. To play at a big Power-4 school, that would be great. They are definitely one of my top schools so if they offered it would almost be a no-brainer.”

Photo courtesy of Luke Thayer on X (formerly known as Twitter)