Reece Wilmes grew up in what some might call a house divided.

Growing up in Kansas, part of his family has ties to the state’s flagship university, rooting intently for the Jayhawks. His father, Aaron, actually played baseball at Kansas. However, there are also a couple of family members with strong ties to Clemson, including his mother and uncle, who are alums. His older brother Braden is also a freshman offensive lineman currently on the Tigers’ roster.

Now the younger Wilmes officially has an opportunity to follow his older brother to the Upstate, with Matt Luke calling on Wednesday to officially extend the four-star talent an offer from the Tigers.

“In our house, I was raised rooting for two teams,” Wilmes told The Clemson Insider. “For the record, my Mom always made sure me and my brothers always had more orange and purple gear. So yes, an offer from Clemson is definitely one that I’m excited about.”

Reece has been on Luke’s radar for quite some time. With Braden having already been through the recruiting process at Clemson, Reece has already made several visits to campus. The most recent came when he worked out at camp two weeks ago, marking the second straight summer he’s attended the camp.

“Honestly, I was a bit anxious and nervous on that FaceTime call, but it feels amazing to be offered by a program like Clemson,” Wilmes said. “He told me I checked all of their boxes and is excited about recruiting me to be a part of their 2028 OL class.”

Not only does Reece now have his offer, but Luke also ensured the younger Wilmes knew exactly how much he’s coveted by making him the first offensive lineman in the 2028 class to earn one from the Tigers.

“It’s an honor,” Wilmes added. “There are some really great players who also received the call from Coach Luke (Wednesday) as well. He shared that I earned this offer on my merits and that he wanted me to be a part of the first group he’s contacting. Just knowing the Tigers don’t make many offers makes it so special.”

The Wilmes brothers played on the same high school team at Lawrence Free State, and now there is a chance for the duo to once again share the same field at the collegiate level.

“It feels pretty cool,” said Wilmes. “It was so great to play on the OL with him in high school. He’s been such a great influence to me, and he was an exceptional leader of our team. The thought of playing with him again has come through my mind a couple of times and would be pretty special if that opportunity presents itself once again.”

Reece already holds more than a dozen offers, with Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern and Oregon being some of the more recent ones, along with the one from Clemson. Obviously, Kansas and Kansas State both got in early. Rivals ranks him among the Top 240 players in the class and as the 12th best interior lineman.

Despite the multiple connections to Clemson, Reece is determined to see through the process. While there may be a sentimental pull, the 6-foot-6, 280-pounder, he is keeping an open mind. He’s looking for the best fit, and he has some pretty stringent requirements regarding what it is he’s looking for in a college program.

“Longevity of the head coach. Someone who has been there multiple years and has a good chance to still be there when I finally get on campus,” Wilmes said. “A great OL coach with many years of experience and a proven track record of developing players into NFL prospects.A program that believes in bringing in high school players and the multi-year development process. The program must play at a high level, win and compete for championships year in and year out. I want a program that emphasizes and places an importance on their players earning a college degree while preparing me for life after football.

“Long way to go before a decision is made, but knowing what I know about the Tiger football program and Clemson University, it is definitely high on my list.”