CLEMSON – This time last year, Clemson’s offensive line left little room for questions. 

Entering the season-opening loss to LSU, Clemson’s starting front-five already held 20 combined years and 167 games of collegiate experience. Their names–Blake Miller, Walker Parks, Tristan Leigh, etc.–were familiar to orange-clad fans.

One year later, however, four of the five original starters in the 2025 season have moved on. Miller was selected in the NFL’s Draft’s first round by the Detroit Lions. Leigh signed a free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Center Ryan Linthicum joined Clemson’s coaching staff. 

The list goes on.

With these veterans absent, things look very different for position coach Matt Luke as freshmen linemen look to plug in and veterans compete for starting jobs ahead of the season opener on Sept. 5 against LSU. According to head coach Dabo Swinney, the competition for the five coveted starting roles has been stiff throughout fall camp.

“The good news is that (the offensive linemen) are making it hard,” Swinney said. “That’s a great thing. It’s not like, ‘Well, it’s the best of the bad.’ We’ve got some really prideful, competitive kids. Matt has recruited that, and he’s instilled that. They’re tough as hell. They’re physical. They want to play.” 

Though the Tigers had many familiar names last season, beyond just the aforementioned offensive linemen, Clemson finished with its worst record (7-6) in 15 years after starting the year with a No. 4 national ranking. Since the season’s conclusion back in December, the obvious disappointment that came with the rough finish has only fueled the intensity.

More than that, it has forced a new group to learn and work together — not only to compete for starting jobs, but to improve upon the offensive line’s overall performance last season.

For Collin Sadler, the only remaining starter from last year’s opening starting five, the revenge– and competition– started in the weight room this summer.

“Obviously the record wasn’t what we wanted last year,” Sadler said. “I think that kind of lit a fire under us a little bit. You know, with (strength coach) D-Love coming in this off season, we’ve worked our tails off under him. We have something to prove. And, in my mind, we have a whole summer worth of busting our tails, and if that doesn’t show up on the field, that’s completely on us. So, I feel like I have a responsibility to everyone in this building to show up every day, bust it, and just give our best.”

Through strength training, extracurricular bonding and leadership, the group has transformed the looming boulder-sized chip on their shoulder into deeper teammate relationships. According to sophomore Brayden Jacobs, who emerged onto the college football scene last year when Leigh went down with an injury, these connections go beyond just the offensive line.

“I think last year our team might not have been as connected as we are this year,” Jacobs said. “I feel like this year like quarterbacks, running backs, obviously we’re all connected. I think it’s just more of a commitment. Like this team’s more committed than last year. We’re hungry.”

Jacobs, who made four starts last season, and Sadler, who has started in 15 games as a guard and tackle in his career, are presumably set to be key players to watch on the offensive line. With veterans Elyjah Thurmon and Harris Sewell, these four players have consistently run as starters during media availability periods in recent practices.

While Swinney has not yet named any starters on either side of the ball, it seems to be a fight for the fifth spot ahead of the Tigers’ season-opener. 

“We’re moving some guys around,” Swinney said. “We’re moving guys to tackle. We’re trying to create depth at center. We rotated at guard some today. Just creating different combinations. I think it’s who is the best five. And then we figure it out from there.” 

Swinney and his staff have approximately three weeks to make their decisions before Clemson will open its season against No. 11 LSU in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 5.

From Sadler’s perspective, the bonded offensive line will come prepared for the challenge.

“I think we genuinely see the best in each other,” he said. “We want the best for each other. So, I think we’re all just pushing each other to be our best.”