CLEMSON — An unsung group of heroes in Clemson’s win over Appalachian State last Saturday was its offensive line. Fifteen lineman got to represent the group as they allowed no sacks for the second game in a row. 

 Veteran right guard Walker Parks has high expectations for the offensive line. While he is encouraged by the success in the first two games, he believes that not allowing sacks or tackles for loss should be the standard.

“At the end of the day that is our job,” he said. “It’s an expectation and that’s not something that we want to boast and say ‘oh we’ve given up no sacks,’ because there’s been two games and if we’re lucky we’ve got 15 more.

“The goal is to play fifteen more, so being an offensive line that’s the expectation. You don’t want any tackles for loss, you don’t want your guy making the tackle at all to begin with.

Parks credited the mindset of his group to new offensive line coach Matt Luke, a fresh face on the Clemson staff who was hired in December of 2023. He previously served as the head coach at Ole Miss from 2017-’19 and later helped the Georgia Bulldogs win a National Championship in 2021 while serving as their offensive line coach. 

Luke has already expressed his goals for Clemson’s offensive line to play as a “connected” unit with “high energy.”

Parks shared that Luke models these attributes daily in practice, and motivates his players to adopt the same attitude.

“He brings a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm, and he’s one guy that’s going to bring the energy every single day regardless if you’re feeling it or not,” Parks said. “I think that helps the younger guys a lot too because they see that energy from a coach and then it’s infectious. It infects the whole room and really brings out the best in everybody. It just brings out that mentality that every single day does matter.”

Parks and the Tigers have another chance to demonstrate this infectious energy against NC State n Sept. 21, when the Wolfpack ventures to Memorial Stadium.

—Photo by Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY Sports