Offensive Line update
The spring is going to be exciting to watch for the offensive line. Long time Coach Robbie Caldwell has moved to an off-field position and former Clemson lineman Thomas Austin has been named the new OL coach. Another former Clemson OL, Brandon Thomas, will be a GA assistant and work with the offensive line as well.
The Tigers return four starters along the OL, returning Jordan McFadden, Walker Parks, Will Putnam, and Marcus Tate. The line lost veteran starter Hunter Rayburn recently due to career ending injuries. The center position will be a battle in the spring. Look for returning lettermen Ryan Linthiculm, Mason Trotter and Trent Howard to get after it.
Clemson returns several offensive linemen, including Bryn Tucker, Tristan Leigh, and Mitchell Mayes. Additional depth is going to come from a couple of players that went down with injuries in 2021. Dietrick Pennington turned heads last year before going down early with an injury. Pennington is a 6-5 335 mountain of man that could compete for reps right away. John Williams, 6-4 300, came to Clemson in 2020, playing in only two games as a true freshman. Williams suffered a season ending injury in fall practice before the 2021 season began.
The Tigers will be welcoming two 4-star offensive linemen in the spring and they will be put to the test early. Big Blake Miller, 6-6 315 and Collin Sadler, 6-6 295 better come in hungry. They have the size, but as usual with most OL prospects making the move to the next level, there is going to be a learning process. They have the talent, now is the time for them to get experience behind an experienced line.
It took half a season for the offensive line to gell. Losing Matt Bockhorst threw off the chemistry but as the season went on, the line got better and played well down the stretch. The loss of Rayburn is a temporary setback at center. Coach Austin has about 7 months to mold the “next man up.” The offense goes as the men in the trenches go. Along with quarterback, this group will be one to keep an eye on in the spring.
