While other schools are attempting to get Adam Guthrie to open his recruitment back up, the blue-chip offensive lineman remains fully locked in with the Tigers.
In fact, Guthrie’s focus at this time is fully on helping his team at Miami Trace (OH) win its first-ever state title. That’s one of the reasons he wanted to commit during the summer. After its 49-6 win over Hillsboro on Friday, the Panthers are now 7-0 overall and 2-0 in region play.
“It is going good,” Guthrie told The Clemson Insider about his senior season. “In the preseason, we got a little eye-opener about what we needed to do, and we just got it rolling from there.”
Right now, that is Guthrie’s only goal, seeing as he got a taste of it during his junior season on the hardwood, helping lead Miami Trace to the Division 3 Southeast District Championship Game. He also plans to play his senior season in basketball rather than enroll early at Clemson.
“It would mean a lot after the success we had in basketball, just to continue that on the football field,” Guthrie said. “Just to win a state title in football and continue that in basketball.”
Guthrie last visited for the Tigers’ season-opening loss to LSU. Living in Ohio, it’s a little difficult for him to make game-day visits with his high school schedule. He is hoping to be back at least once before the end of the season, possibly for the matchup against Florida State on November 8.
“It was great, the atmosphere was crazy,” Guthrie said. “Obviously, the result we didn’t like. But that didn’t change anything in my mind. Love being back there more every time.”
While some might believe Clemson’s 1-3 start to the season would have some of the current commits rethinking things, that is not the case with Guthrie. He fully believes the Tigers will get it turned around and we saw evidence of that in Saturday’s blowout win over North Carolina.
“Obviously, we have the talent, we just have to put stuff together,” Guthrie said. “Then just get the season rolling.”
Guthrie readily admits that schools are still pursuing him, with the biggest being the flagship university in his home state. His message to them all is quite simple.
“Some schools have, Ohio State is the biggest one, but I am fully committed,” Guthrie said. “I tell them I am fully committed.”
Clemson’s family-like culture is what separates the Tigers from the rest of the pack, and he fully believes that culture is what will help the program get it turned around.
“It just feels like family every time down there,” Guthrie said. “I feel comfortable there. I know that this is not going to continue. We will be successful this year, and obviously, when I am there, we will be successful.”
Guthrie ranks as high as No. 158 overall and No. 18 among all tackle prospects in the 2026 class, and as long as Dabo Swinney is leading the program and Matt Luke is coaching the offensive line, he knows exactly where he wants to be.
“As long as coach Luke and coach Swinney are there, I am fully there with the program,” Guthrie said. “Wins and losses this season won’t change how I feel about it. Coach Swinney has done it before. Coach Luke has won everywhere he’s been. Once he gets his guys in, I believe he will get his guys rolling.”
Photo by Bart Boatwright