The recruitment of a legacy offensive linemen is at the top of the list for Dabo Swinney, and the introduction of Matt Luke hasn’t hurt Clemson’s chances. If anything, it may have helped the Tigers in the long run.

For a long time, Clemson has been recruiting 2025 four-star offensive lineman Mal Waldrep. He’s held a deep connection with the program, but continued to become a large commodity around the country. He holds 19 Division-I offers, including Alabama who is making a heavy push for him.

Enter Luke, who’s taken over his recruitment after Thomas Austin. He’s a journeyman coach that’s garnered a lot of respect around the country. That goes for Waldrep as well, who told The Clemson Insider about their budding relationship.

“This was the first time I have sat down and actually talked with coach Luke. He is a great guy, I think he made a great first impression on me, he knows how to recruit well,” Waldrep said.

While the pair have communicated virtually, this was the first face-to-face interaction as the Tigers went on the road to visit one of their key 2025 targets. It was a successful visit to say the least.

“Coach Luke communicates very well, our phone conversation go on for a long time and we talk about things that aren’t just football. The relationship is building,” Waldrep said.

There’s a very short break before Waldrep and Luke spend time together again as Elite Junior Day approaches for the weekend. The coveted lineman said the energy at Clemson is ‘unmatched’ and the Tigers will continue their efforts to secure a commitment from Waldrep during this visit.