Latest news with #MattLuke
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clemson offensive line ranked Top 10 heading into 2025 by two ESPN analysts
Clemson football's offensive line continues to earn national recognition ahead of the 2025 season. On a recent episode of his Always College Football show, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, joined by fellow analyst Cole Cubelic, ranked the top 10 offensive lines in the country — and Clemson checked in at No. 9 on their list. With four starters returning, the Tigers are expected to take another step forward under offensive line coach Matt Luke, who has quickly made a strong impact since joining Dabo Swinney's staff. Clemson loses veteran Marcus Tate at left guard, but the rest of the unit remains intact. Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh return as the bookend tackles, Ryan Linthicum anchors the middle at center, and sixth-year lineman Walker Parks provides versatility and leadership along the interior. Advertisement Replacing Tate likely won't be a major issue, with sophomore Harris Sewell ready to step in. Sewell has already logged over 1,000 snaps in his first two seasons and has shown steady improvement throughout his time in the program. 'I could probably start and finish this reasoning with the coach of the offensive line, Matt Luke,' McElroy said. 'Usually, any group that he's in charge of, you feel pretty good about. They bring back four out of five starters. I'm not concerned at all about the positions that return.' Cubelic, a former Auburn offensive lineman, echoed that sentiment and credited Luke with instilling a tougher edge in Clemson's front. 'Matt Luke has brought a little bit more of that glass-eater mentality,' he said. 'It was an amazing hire by Dabo. You're plugging in a guy like Harris Sewell, who's already played a ton, and I think Tristan Leigh can be one of the better tackles in the ACC.' Both analysts agreed that if Clemson's offensive line can live up to expectations, the rest of the offense could benefit in a big way. Cubelic noted that in recent years, the Tigers' line hasn't always stood out even when the offense has thrived, but this year could be different with so much continuity and experience up front. Pro Football Focus also recently ranked Clemson among the top 10 offensive lines heading into the season, placing the Tigers at No. 10. McElroy concluded, 'I think it's got a chance to be one of their better groups they've had. Just all things considered, I really believe that.' Advertisement The full top-10 list from McElroy and Cubelic featured Notre Dame at No. 1, followed by Texas A&M, Florida, Alabama, Utah, Miami, Penn State, Auburn, Clemson, and Oregon. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson offensive line ranked Top 10 by two ESPN analysts
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson offensive line ranked Top 10 heading into 2025 by two ESPN analysts
Former Clemson running back Marquise Henderson officially enters the transfer portal Clemson football's offensive line continues to earn national recognition ahead of the 2025 season. On a recent episode of his Always College Football show, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, joined by fellow analyst Cole Cubelic, ranked the top 10 offensive lines in the country — and Clemson checked in at No. 9 on their list. With four starters returning, the Tigers are expected to take another step forward under offensive line coach Matt Luke, who has quickly made a strong impact since joining Dabo Swinney's staff. Clemson loses veteran Marcus Tate at left guard, but the rest of the unit remains intact. Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh return as the bookend tackles, Ryan Linthicum anchors the middle at center, and sixth-year lineman Walker Parks provides versatility and leadership along the interior. Replacing Tate likely won't be a major issue, with sophomore Harris Sewell ready to step in. Sewell has already logged over 1,000 snaps in his first two seasons and has shown steady improvement throughout his time in the program. 'I could probably start and finish this reasoning with the coach of the offensive line, Matt Luke,' McElroy said. 'Usually, any group that he's in charge of, you feel pretty good about. They bring back four out of five starters. I'm not concerned at all about the positions that return.' Cubelic, a former Auburn offensive lineman, echoed that sentiment and credited Luke with instilling a tougher edge in Clemson's front. 'Matt Luke has brought a little bit more of that glass-eater mentality,' he said. 'It was an amazing hire by Dabo. You're plugging in a guy like Harris Sewell, who's already played a ton, and I think Tristan Leigh can be one of the better tackles in the ACC.' Both analysts agreed that if Clemson's offensive line can live up to expectations, the rest of the offense could benefit in a big way. Cubelic noted that in recent years, the Tigers' line hasn't always stood out even when the offense has thrived, but this year could be different with so much continuity and experience up front. Pro Football Focus also recently ranked Clemson among the top 10 offensive lines heading into the season, placing the Tigers at No. 10. McElroy concluded, 'I think it's got a chance to be one of their better groups they've had. Just all things considered, I really believe that.' The full top-10 list from McElroy and Cubelic featured Notre Dame at No. 1, followed by Texas A&M, Florida, Alabama, Utah, Miami, Penn State, Auburn, Clemson, and Oregon. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rivals Five-Star: Key OL storylines to follow heading into Indianapolis
The Rivals Five-Star is being held June 23-24 at the Indianapolis Colts' practice facility. Here are four offensive line storylines we're following heading into the biggest event of the summer. RIVALS FIVE-STAR EVENT: Roster | Big Ten programs in the spotlight | SEC programs in the spotlight | Key QB storylines | Key RB storylines | Key WR storylines | Key TE storylines | Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy BEST OF RIVALS CAMP SERIES: The five best QBs of the 2025 Rivals Camp Series regionals | Five best RBs | Five best WRs/TEs | Five best OL | Five best DL | Five best LBs | Five best DBs CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State FELIX OJO MAKES A CASE FOR NO. 1 No offensive tackle has made a more steady rise toward the top of the rankings this offseason than Felix Ojo – the third-ranked offensive tackle in the Rivals250 – who shined at the All-American Bowl and various camp settings this off-season. Advertisement Only Jackson Cantwell and Immanuel Iheanacho stand in front of Ojo at OT and Ojo will have an opportunity to compete against an array of blue-chip defensive linemen and edge defenders in Indianapolis. Texas, Ohio State and Michigan view Ojo as the best OT in the class and we're excited to see him in this setting. MATT LUKE'S RECORD CLASS Jeff McCulloch/ Matt Luke and the Clemson Tigers are reeling in blue-chip offensive linemen at a high clip in the 2026 cycle. Clemson went 5-for-5 up front with its offensive line targets and three of the five future Tigers in Indianapolis will be along the O-line. Advertisement Four-star offensive tackle Chancellor Barclay and four-star interior offensive linemen Carter Scruggs and Grant Wise will all be on hand. Barclay is one of the most athletic offensive tackles in the class. Scruggs was in contention for MVP honors at the Rivals Camp Series in Dallas. Wise boasts a unique athletic profile as a standout weightlifter as well. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT IRISH WELL-REPRESENTED IN INDIANAPOLIS Notre Dame is always stout in the trenches and Marcus Freeman's program will be represented with a pair of four-star offensive linemen in Indianapolis. Four-stars Tyler Merrill and Ben Nichols are among the offensive linemen set to compete and both rank among the Irish's highest-rated recruits in the 2026 class. Advertisement Merrill and Nichols rank as the Nos. 3 and 6 interior OL in the Rivals250 and make up half of the Irish's OL haul so far in this class. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NOTRE DAME FANS AT SEVERAL NOTABLE UNDERCLASSMEN The double-digit offensive line group competing at the Rivals Five-Star is upperclassmen-heavy. Three 2027 offensive linemen will compete in Indy, including Kennedy Brown, the No. 11 overall prospect in the Rivals250 in next year's recruiting class. Four-star Ismael Camara is also set to make the trip. A native of France, Camara preps at Gilmer (Texas) High School in East Texas and was the Offensive Line MVP at the Rivals Camp Series in Dallas. Similarly, four-star Lex Mailangi was a convincing Offensive Line MVP at the Rivals Camp Series in Los Angeles.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Georgia coach ranked among nation's top recruiters
Former Georgia coach ranked among nation's top recruiters Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive line coach Matt Luke is one of the country's top recruiters in the class of 2026. Luke, who is now the offensive line coach for the Clemson Tigers, helped Georgia land five-star offensive tackles Amarius Mims and Broderick Jones during his time in Athens (2020-2021). Luke made $975,000 last year in his first year back in coaching since 2021. He is one of the highest paid assistant coaches in the country. His ability to land top recruits is a big reason why he's one of the best offensive line coaches in the nation. Luke is 247Sports' No. 6 recruiter in the country. He's helped the Tigers land commitments from four 2026 prospects. Luke and Clemson have the fifth-best recruiting class nationally. Of course, there's still a long way to go in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Early Signing Day is not until December. How has Georgia recruited without Matt Luke Luke's absence has not stopped Georgia's coaching staff from doing a good job of recruiting linemen. Georgia is in the mix for five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell and had three offensive linemen selected in the 2025 NFL draft. Georgia signed five-star offensive lineman Juan Gaston in the class of 2025. Gaston is Georgia's first five-star offensive line signee since the Matt Luke era (2020-2021).
