CLEMSON — Blake Miller has become the embodiment of durability and dependability for the Clemson Tigers.
A die-hard Tiger through and through, Miller is known not only for his toughness on the field but also for the respect he earns from his teammates. Since arriving in 2022, he’s played one of the most physically demanding positions in football, and he’s done it without ever missing a single start.
On Saturday, Miller’s remarkable streak of 50 consecutive starts will reach another milestone. In almost four full seasons, he’s never sat out a game or not had his name on the starting lineup.
Miller’s roommate and fellow lineman, Walker Parks, knows better than anyone the kind of commitment that takes.
“Blake is the epitome of a dude who’s just going to show up and work and he’s going to do the work every time no matter how he feels or what’s going on,” Parks said.
Playing offensive line requires more than size and strength. It demands physical and mental toughness. Each snap brings another hit, another test of his endurance. The physical toll is so strong, yet Miller continues to play hard for Clemson’s line.
“People don’t understand what it does to your body playing offensive line and what you feel like and not only the soreness and the whatever you get from getting banged up,” Parks said. “You know, you might break a finger or jam something to work through that, but you get broken bones and you know, you break your shoulder or you tear ligaments in your ankle or whatever.”
Parks has witnessed firsthand Miller’s ability to push through pain and setbacks that would sideline most players.
“I’ve seen Blake roll his ankle, I’ve seen him break his wrist — and he broke his wrist in spring ball, which spring ball is a very easy opportunity to say, okay I broke something, like I just need to rest up and get healthy for the season or whatever,” Parks said. “I think he missed a practice and was so embarrassed that he just had the surgery and went on spring break and came back and played the rest of the season with a giant club on his arm.”
That level of commitment has put Miller in an unusual category of Clemson football players. He became the first Clemson offensive lineman since 1945 to start every game without redshirting, joining former center Ralph Jenkins who earned that over 80 years ago.
“Blake is a guy — and I’ll tell all the scouts this too when the scouts come around — like if you’re looking for a guy who can play ten years at the next level and you never have to worry about what he’s feeling or what he’s going through,” Parks said. “That dude is going to be the same every single day. He’s as solid as a rock.”
Miller’s consistency hasn’t gone unnoticed by his quarterback, Cade Klubnik, who’s had him protecting his blind side since his very first start. He’s all he knows at right tackle. Since he’s been at Clemson, they’ve been through everything together.
“The way that he takes care of his body throughout the season and during the offseason and everything, that dude is just a workhorse and everybody in that room and really everybody on this team looks up to him and that’s pretty crazy,” Klubnik said.
For Klubnik, there’s no lack of appreciation for a player like Miller—especially in one of the most physically punishing positions in the sport.
“In a sport that this already is, where it’s a very, very physical sport that demands a lot, but especially at his position where it is, you know, maybe the most physical, is truly really, really impressive,” Klubnik said. “And that just comes down to everything that he does to prepare for a week and recover from a game to be able to be the most healthy he can be — it’s pretty incredible.”
As Miller closes in on 50 consecutive starts–a Clemson record–his presence on Clemson’s offensive line has become more than dependable—it’s symbolic. His toughness, leadership, and drive have set the tone for what it means to wear orange on Saturdays.
Blake Miller doesnt just hold another record, hes not just another starter, hes a standard of what kind of teammate and player someone should be.