CLEMSON — Offensive line coach Matt Luke has been a boon to Clemson football.
Luke, who was hired in December 2023 to replace Thomas Austin, improved Clemson’s offensive line in his first season, producing two All-ACC selections (Blake Miller, Marcus Tate) and helping Clemson tie for the national lead with six games with 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards.
Luke is also excelling on the recruiting trail. In his first full season, he has landed five offensive line commits in the 2026 class, its most since 2020. Next year’s commitments include four stars Leo Delaney, Chancellor Barclay, Adam Guthrie and Grant Wise and three star Braden Wilmes. Luke’s latest pickup was Delaney on June 4, which made him and Barclay the highest-ranked players in Clemson’s recruiting cycle.
“Coach Luke was a driving factor for my commitment,” Delaney said on 247Sports’ The Ultimate College Football Show. “We’d sit there, and we talked football up in my head coach’s office when he’d come and recruit me. He’s just so passionate about the sport and about coaching me to become an amazing athlete and an amazing person. I couldn’t have been more confident that he’s someone that can develop me into the athlete I want to be.”
Luke’s recruiting has helped lift Clemson’s 2026 class rank to No. 5 nationally with 16 commitments, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. It is a complete 180-degree turn from last year’s cycle that finished with 15 signees and ranked 26th nationally. It was Tigers coach Dabo Swinney’s lowest-rated cycle since 2010 and his smallest class since 2017.
Swinney acknowledged the rankings of his 2025 recruiting was an anomaly, citing his program had seven decommitments and it typically ranks around the top 10. Next year’s cycle is proving his point, and Luke has been a major contributor.
Luke, 48, was out of coaching…
Source link : https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2025/06/05/clemson-football-recruiting-2026-matt-luke-dabo-swinney/84034772007/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-06-05 09:07:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
