Matt Luke is tasked with replacing a lot of lost experience along the Clemson offensive line.
Blake Miller, Tristan Leigh, Walker Parks and Ryan Linthicum are no longer around. Veteran Harris Sewell, who has played a lot of ball over the past two seasons, moves over to center, while sophomore Brayden Jacobs takes over at left tackle, and Elyjah Thurmon at left guard. Collin Sadler is the presumed starter at right tackle, but sophomore Easton Ware might have something to say about how things play out there.
The biggest question might be at right guard. Junior Ronan O’Connell, who made his first start against Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl, and sophomore Tucker Kattus are two of the players battling it out there.
However, Dabo Swinney said going into camp that there were no starters. Anywhere on the field. And the head coach maintains the focus for the offensive line early on in camp is on identifying the best five and going from there.
“A lot of competition, I think all across the board,” Swinney said. “Lots of competition, I don’t think it is just right guard. I think it’s who is the best five. And then we figure it out from there. Who is the best five?”
Over the first week of camp, there has been a lot of mixing and matching up front. Thurmon has also seen some time at center, as has freshman Grant Wise. Of the five freshman linemen who enrolled early, Wise might have the best shot of the group to make the two-deep going into the season.
Not only are guys vying for starting spots, the rest of the two-deep has to be filled as well. Who serves as Jacobs’ backup at left tackle. Who is the next man up at right guard?
The Tigers will move over to Jervey Field for practice on Wednesday and Friday before holding the first live scrimmage on Saturday inside Memorial Stadium. A second scrimmage will be held next Thursday, which happens to be the final day of fall camp. By then, we should have more clarity on how some of this plays out, particularly at right guard.
“I love the competitiveness of the group, and those guys that are battling in there,” Swinney said.
