Clemson picked up a pair of offensive linemen on Wednesday, officially adding four-star Elyjah Thurmon and three-star Mason Wade on the first day of the early signing period to go with previous offensive line pledges from four-star Ronan O’Connell and three-star Watson Young.
Head coach Dabo Swinney is high on the O-line haul the Tigers were able to assemble in their 2024 class.
“Super excited about what we were able to do on the offensive line,” he said. “Man, just kind of came together and worked out in a great way.”
The Tigers wrapped up that group with Thurmon and Wade, and Swinney believes they “really knocked it out of the park” with those final additions to the class.
”We needed guys that could play tackle and have some position flexibility – a lot like (former Clemson OL) Jordan McFadden brought to us, a lot like (redshirt freshman OL) Collin Sadler brings to us, a lot like (redshirt sophomore OL) Tristan Leigh brings to us – some versatility in their game. And Elyjah Thurmon and Mason Wade, they bring that,” Swinney said.
Swinney affectionately described the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Thurmon and 6-foot-5, 295-pound Wade as “two dirtbags” – a compliment for an offensive lineman.
“Tough guys, man. Just athletic,” Swinney said. “They’ve got good length. Really in a good spot physically.”
Like their fellow O-line signees, Thurmon and Wade will enroll at Clemson in January.
A four-star offensive lineman by most recruiting services, Thurmon was credited with 51 pancakes/takedowns as a senior while allowing only four hurries.
The Bradwell Institute (Ga.) product was selected to the Under Armour All-America Game and the Polynesian Bowl, and named MVP of the Crafting Lineman camp as well as the Big Man 5v5 Lineman Camp. He also competed in basketball and track and field.
“He’s a kid that we battled hard (to get), and again, you think (former Clemson OL) Tremayne Anchrum, you think Jordan McFadden. Maybe a little bigger, but that type of athlete,” Swinney said. “Can really, really run. He’s got excellent length. He’s a great player in space. I love his toughness. I just think this kid’s got a chance to be a great, great player.”
Wade, meanwhile, was a two-time all-district and all-region honoree who earned selections in each of his final two seasons at Loudoun Valley High School (Va.). He was also selected to All-LoCo Sports and All-Loudoun teams.
A four-year starter at left tackle, Wade was a two-time team captain (2022-23) and named as the team’s MVP as a senior in 2023, when he averaged double-digit pancakes per game according to Loudoun Valley’s coaching staff. He completed his prep career holding records in the bench press, clean and three-cone drill in the school’s 62-year history.
Wade had been committed to Duke since June, but Clemson made an offer to him late last week before promptly getting him on campus for an official visit and then ultimately flipping him to the Tigers.
“He’s a kid that was committed. Obviously that situation changed, recruiting opens back up. We were able to get back in on this kid,” Swinney said. “His mom ironically went to Clemson, and his uncle Andy went to Clemson as well. He was a kid that had been in our camp early, but he committed early to Duke.
“He’s the epitome of football. The guy has just developed every year. And you watch his tape, that’s what I told him – the first thing I said, I said, ‘This is a dirtbag right here.’ He’s a nice kid but he is nasty on the football field, and again, he’s long, he’s got great work ethic, he’s a grinder, incredibly smart. So, I just think we checked all the boxes and we were able to get what we need.”
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