CLEMSON – Blake Miller made history in April, becoming the first Clemson offensive lineman to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 1960.

Taken at pick No. 17, Miller had been a staple of Clemson’s O-Line since 2022, when he started every game for the Tigers as a freshman.

Last season, Miller highlighted a veteran offensive line group for the Tigers, one that featured 22 total years of collegiate football experience combined. The bunch had been there for two ACC Championships, through two offensive coordinators and position coaches. 

Now, Miller is headed off to his first NFL season, veteran Tristan Leigh signed an unrestricted free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings, and Walker Parks and Ryan Linthicum attended rookie minicamps.

With familiar names and faces departing from the program, Clemson’s offensive line in 2026 will give players who have been waiting in the wings some opportunities, and give others a bigger leadership role.

One of the players who is primed to take on a massive role for the Tigers’ O-line this season is Brayden Jacobs, a rising sophomore who exploded onto the scene last year when Leigh went down with an injury.

Jacobs got his first start at left guard last season after a breakout game against Boston College, and quickly earned his second at left tackle before suffering a season-ending injury in November.

With a 6-foot-7 frame and punishing strength, Jacobs has the opportunity to be the star on Clemson’s offensive line this year, especially if he can clean up a few early mistakes he made last season, like giving up a sack and a holding penalty. With Leigh gone, he is the prime candidate to hold the left tackle spot.

Harris Sewell, who is a rising senior, will be the offensive lineman with the most starting experience entering this year. Sewell has made 17 starts in his three-year career at Clemson, switching between left and right guard. This season, however, he will be tasked with being the Tigers’ center, a position he has played only in limited game-reps. 

According to head coach Dabo Swinney, Sewell is coming along nicely at the center position and with his experience, is the best choice to anchor the line. He also has a connection with quarterback Christopher Vizzina, who is in the “pole position” for the starting job, as the two have been roommates for three years.

Following closely behind Sewell in experience is Colin Sadler, who has made 15 starts in 1,291 career snaps. Sadler has primarily played left guard, with some tackle. With Jacobs as the  probable left tackle starter, Sadler is the most likely candidate to start at guard.

If Elyjah Thurmon can stay healthy, he could be a huge addition to the Tigers’ lineup. Last season, Thurmon was in position to be an every-game starter, before a shoulder injury held him to just three games and one start at right guard. The year prior, he suffered another season-ending injury in his first career start against Pitt.

Standing 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, the Rienzi, Miss., native is strong, reliable and athletic for his size, and would bolster the group’s strength at right guard. 

The right tackle position seems to be a little less certain than the other four, especially with Miller’s absence coming after four years of iron-clad consistency. Offensive line coach Matt Luke, entering his third year at Clemson, finally has some of his recruits in the program, and one of them could be poised to start at the position.

There is always the chance that a veteran could bump out to right tackle, like Sadler or Thurmon, but players like Easton Ware could also get the nod.

Ware, a redshirt freshman, missed all of last season due to a shoulder injury he sustained in fall camp. He was rated a four-star prospect out of Virginia and was a high school teammate of Gideon Davidson, who is in position to become the Tigers’ starting running back. Like Thurmon and Jacobs, Ware brings big, 6-foot-5 size, and received spring practice praise from Swinney.

Other players like Ronan O’Connell, entering his third year in the program, or Gavin Blanchard, entering his second, could also be candidates to make starts or provide depth this year.

Last season, Clemson’s offensive line gave up 21 sacks, which was four better than the previous year but just 47th in the nation and sixth in the ACC. Since 2020, the Tigers have finished outside of the top 40 in the country in sacks allowed every year but in 2021, when they also allowed 21.

With a new quarterback this season, it will be imperative to establish close communication and chemistry on the line to prevent this number from increasing any more. Ideally, it would move to being a top-ranked group or at least in the top-five in the ACC to give a new quarterback some time to breathe.

Additionally, Clemson’s new offensive coordinator Chad Morris believes in utilizing the run game frequently. In order for this to be successful, the offensive line is going to have to protect the running back more than they were ever tasked with last season. If the Tigers cannot establish the run, it will put more pressure on protecting the new signal-caller from blitzes, which could result in more sacks and ultimate turnovers.

Because Morris also believes in getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly, this could also help with the sacks allowed this season.

It is a lot to ask of an almost entirely new offensive line starting group to improve from the future NFL players of last season. Still, new blood and chemistry might be good for Luke’s unit.

Still, Jacobs, Thurmon and the bunch will get an early chance to show what they are made out of.