Reece Wilmes has multiple connections to Clemson.

Wilmes’ older brother, Braden, is currently committed to Clemson and is expected to be an early enrollee in January. His mother is an alum, as is one of his uncles. So, it’s no surprise that the 2028 offensive lineman (Lawrence Free State, KS) has grown up an avid fan of the Tigers.

Despite those connections, Wilmes just competed at Dabo Swinney’s high school camp for the very first time. While he has been on campus numerous times in the past, this summer marked the first time working out in front of the Clemson coaching staff.

“The camp was an intense, fast-paced camp, and I had plenty of interactions and position-specific instruction from many different coaches throughout the whole day,” Wilmes told The Clemson Insider. “It is also the only non-padded camp that I have participated in so far.”

After getting coached up by offensive line coach Matt Luke, Wilmes feels he came out of the experience a better player than he was going in.

“Coach Luke was great,” Wilmes added. “He coached me up by offering many tips and pointers to help me and the other campers improve our techniques and skills as an offensive lineman in a way that was easy to understand. He told me I had good size and was extremely athletic for my age, with good footwork and bend. He also told me to keep working hard, learning and to play with intensity while enjoying the next year of high school football.”

Wilmes also worked out at Kansas and Iowa State, with both of those programs extending offers after his impressive showings. Clemson won’t start offering players in the 2028 recruiting class until next summer, but with his connections to the program and an older brother who will be on the team, it’s an offer the 6-foot-5 prospect absolutely wants.

“It would be pretty awesome to get an offer from a top 25 program in college football,” Wilmes said. “My mom and uncle are Clemson grads, so I’ve grown up wearing orange and being a Tiger fan. Absolutely, the thought of playing with (Braden) in college has crossed my mind. It would be pretty cool, but I’ve got a long time and a lot of hard work ahead of me before something like that becomes a possibility.”

Wilmes is just a rising high school sophomore, meaning the process for him is in the beginning stages. However, no matter where his journey takes him, that sentimental pull to Clemson will always be there.

It’s that culture inside the program. It’s infectious, and Wilmes has already felt it.

“The Clemson football staff is the thing that stood out most to me, Wilmes said. “They are all one big family, and they make you feel like you are at home. When I was at my brother’s official visit, everyone knew my name, and they were always so kind to me.”

Photo courtesy of Reece Wilmes on X (formerly known as Twitter)