On Wednesday, Clemson finally sent out its first wave of offers to offensive linemen in the 2028 class.

Matt Luke made six calls that day, which resulted in offers, with three-star Daven Reed (North Cross, VA) being on the receiving end of one. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound prospect made his first visit to Clemson back in the spring, then returned to work out at camp during the first week of June.

“He called me and told me I did great at the camp and there is some stuff I need to work on,” Reed told The Clemson Insider. “Then he offered me right there. It was an exciting experience.”

Knowing that he’s one of just a few offensive linemen to currently hold an offer from the Tigers makes it a little more meaningful.

“It means a lot,” Reed added. “It just shows that Clemson really thinks about who they offer. They make sure they have the right character, the right grades, and the right person to fit their team. You can tell they really take care of their players. They choose who they really need and who they really want.”

Coaches were able to start contacting 2028 recruits directly on June 15, and once the clock hit 12 a.m. that night, Reed started receiving text messages from members of the staff, including assistant offensive line coach Carson Cramer. The following morning, he heard from Luke.

Between his two visits to campus, Reed feels like he’s already gotten a good grasp of exactly who Luke is, along with everything he stands for.

“I have gotten to know him well,” Reed said. “I sat down with him and talked to him a lot, me and my family, and we love him. He is an amazing guy, an amazing coach. He has a lot to offer. When I was at camp, I really learned a lot underneath him. His coaching style is really great.”

Reed also camped at Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State. He has taken recent visits to Tennessee and Virginia Tech, as well. Those schools, along with Rutgers and Clemson, are the ones showing the most love early on.

However, there is one thing that makes Clemson stand out, and that something is Luke.

“I feel like Coach Luke, he really tries to connect with his players — with all of the recruits and his players,” Reed said. “You can tell he is a genuine guy. There is no fluff. He is going to tell you how it is. He is one of those who will tell you if you have something wrong. He is not going to pump you up and say, ‘Oh, you are so great.’ He is going to tell you what you are doing wrong and how you need to fix it.”

Reed is already planning on making a game day visit in the fall. While he may still be early in the process, these next rounds of visits, once the season starts, will be crucial, as he starts zeroing in on the schools he feels are a fit.

“Are the players together? Are they family?” Reed said. “Facilities, like the training room, so I can stay healthy. How the coaches coach their players and how they speak to the players. Basically just trying to see who is a fit for me. I am also trying to see how they are academically because I want to major in business.”

Photo courtesy of Daven Reed on X (formerly known as Twitter)