Clemson Spring Game Primer: Offensive Line

Clemson football continues spring practice in preparation for the spring game coming up next month.  Here’s a look at the offensive line, a crucial position group and one that must improve for the Tigers to have a shot at the CFP Playoff.

When: April 9 at 1 PM, Clemson Memorial Stadium

Position Coach: Thomas Austin – Austin takes over for Robbie Caldwell, who is transitioning to a role with the support staff. Early observations of Austin have been positive. His immediate challenge is clear: find the starting center for the Tigers in 2022, and then set the line around him. Hunter Rayburn has retired due to health concerns and has joined the staff as a graduate assistant, and Mason Trotter will not be available this season for reasons that have not been disclosed publicly.

Who is playing: Jordan McFadden (+SR), Will Putnam (SR), Walker Parks (JR), Marcus Tate (SO), Mitchell Mayes (JR), Trent Howard (SO-RS), Bryn Tucker (SO-RS), John Williams (SO-RS), Tristan Leigh (FR-RS), Ryan Linthicum (FR-RS), Collin Sadler (FR-Early Enrollee), Blake Miller (FR-Early Enrollee)

Who isn’t playing: Hunter Rayburn (Retired), Mason Trotter (JR-RS)

Questionable: Dietrick Pennington (FR-RS): Pennington is limited to an extent while he continues to recover from injury, but the staff is optimistic he will be able to play. A final decision will be made after spring break.

What we can expect for the spring game: Putnam will get a look at center, along with Linthicum and Howard. Others may have a chance to take snaps too. Beyond that, expect a deep rotation of all available players. Austin must identify his best combinations at tackle and guard. Several of the options, such as Leigh, Pennington and Williams, didn’t see much playing time in 2021 due either to injury or readiness.

What we can expect for next season: The ideal at center is for Linthicum or Howard to step up and take the job, which allows Putnam to take one of the starting guard positions. If Putnam gets the starting center job, which sounds most likely at this point, then Austin must figure out who starts on either side of him at guard.

It seems certain that McFadden will start at left tackle, and Parks will be at right tackle. Tate started several games at guard as a freshman, so he is a logical choice for one of the starting guard positions. Pennington, Williams, and Tucker are all options for the last guard spot. On the two-deep, there is a lot of optimism that Leigh is ready to be a key back-up at tackle, putting him in line to step into the starting rotation once McFadden exhausts his eligibility.

Freshmen Miller and Sadler might impact the two-deep. There might be transfer additions at offensive line as well. Coach Swinney has said they would like to add an experienced player who can play in the interior at guard or center. If the right candidate is found in the portal after spring, they could play an important role for the Tigers in 2022.