CLEMSON – When offensive line coach Matt Luke was hired at Clemson a few weeks before Christmas in 2023, he bore a specific vision for the future of his group.

This vision started with a few baseline recruiting criteria, Luke said in an introductory press conference. In order to catch the former Ole Miss head coach’s eye, high school linemen needed to show size, athleticism and toughness on tape.

From there, Clemson’s staff would evaluate character and culture fits and distribute offers accordingly. 

Now, nearing three years after Luke laid out his recruiting goals, a class of true freshmen offensive linemen who fit the initial vision are on campus, and set to begin their collegiate careers. 

These six linemen, which Luke recruited from five states, enter the fold at an interesting time for Clemson’s offensive line. Four of last year’s starting five linemen have now graduated out of the program, with right tackle Blake Miller off to the Detroit Lions and left tackle Tristan Leigh signing an unrestricted free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

Right guard Walker Parks and center Ryan Linthicum also exceeded their eligibility after last season. 

Additionally, four of the five presumed starters for the 2026 season – all returners– suffered season-ending injuries last season, and have been on the mend over the last several months.

This means that except for Harris Sewell, the probable center this year, Clemson’s offensive line is relatively inexperienced with extensive starting reps, (and) or is returning from an injury.

With six highly-touted freshmen waiting in the wings and head coach Dabo Swinney preaching a “no-guaranteed starters” attitude, a few of Luke’s “tough athletes” could find their way into meaningful reps this season, if not starting jobs.

Left Tackle

Sophomore Brayden Jacobs will most likely be the Tigers’ starting left tackle, after a standout freshman season last year that ended in an unfortunate postgame injury. Right behind him on the depth chart, though, could easily be true freshman Braden Wilmes, a 6-foot-8 three-year left tackle starter in high school, and the second half of what Swinney calls “the two big Bra(y)dens.”

Wilmes obviously brings size, but he also has over 2,000 career snaps at the left tackle position in high school.

Center

Sewell, as mentioned, is in prime position to become the Tigers’ starting center, but Grant Wise, a four-star prospect out of Florida, could easily step in as his immediate backup, and could even threaten for the starting job in fall camp. With a state championship weightlifting background and build, Swinney said Wise “looks like he’s a senior in college right now,” and could also immediately benefit the Tigers at guard.

Wise allowed zero sacks and no quarterback pressures in his 45 starts at the second-highest level of high school football in the Sunshine State. At 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, Wise will not need to put on much mass before he can make a difference, especially as Swinney called him one of the best players he has ever seen come through high school camp.

Guard

Right now, veterans Colin Sadler and Elyjah Thurmon seem to be in position to man the guard spots, if they continue to stay healthy from nagging injuries. However, with Wise, four-star freshman Chance Barclay could also man one of the guard positions quickly in his collegiate tenure.

In high school, Barclay, the Tigers’ highest-ranked offensive lineman in the 2026 class,  played both right and left guard, as well as center. At 6-foot-4, 290, the Orlando, Fla., native is highly mobile and was described as dynamic, mature and charismatic by Swinney.

Hopefully for Clemson, this maturity could help him step into a game this season, if needed, without being rattled by nerves at either of the guard spots. Regardless of his trajectory this year, Barclay will be a name to watch in the coming seasons for the Tigers.

Carter Scruggs and Adam Guthrie, two more rookie prospects, also have tremendous size, and are projected as future starting guards, according to major recruiting sites. Like their classmates, both are multi-sport athletes that bring height and plenty of starting experience from the high school level. They both could be depth pieces this season or mature into bigger roles as they develop.

Right Tackle

With Miller gone, however, the right tackle position is a little more hazy. Rising redshirt freshman Easton Ware, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, could certainly be the starter on opening day. As of the spring, with glowing reviews from his coaches, that is what seems most probable.

Sadler or Thurmon could also bump out to this position, or another player waiting in the wings like Ronan O’Connell could make a push for the job. However, with no clear, experienced favorite, why couldn’t one of Luke’s true freshmen be in the running for playing time?

Rookie Leo Delaney, who won multiple state championships in North Carolina, seems the most probable of the freshmen to threaten for the role. At 6-foot-5, Delaney fits the bill for Luke’s size requirement and a karate background. You could also see the first-year player work inside at guard.