When Clemson looks ahead to the 2026 season, one name is already drawing national attention.
Four-star offensive tackle Leo Delaney has been identified as Clemson’s most likely instant-impact signee in the 2026 recruiting class, a designation rooted in both roster reality and Delaney’s physical upside.
Clemson will be replacing starting tackles Tristan Leigh and Blake Miller following the 2025 season, creating a clear opening along the offensive front. With only a redshirt freshman and redshirt sophomore currently positioned as reserves, the path for early playing time is real—and Delaney fits the profile of someone capable of stepping into that window.
Listed at 6-foot-6, 295 pounds, Delaney brings prototype size and length for the position. He’s ranked among the nation’s top offensive tackles in the 2026 class and sits inside the national top 100 overall prospects. Evaluators point to his athleticism and reach as traits that already translate to the Power 4 level, with added strength expected to unlock even more upside.
The Charlotte native arrives with a winning résumé. Delaney was a team captain on Providence Day’s 13-0 state championship team during his senior season, continuing a run of success that saw the program capture multiple state titles during his high school career.
As a junior, Delaney earned the program’s Charger Award, Providence Day’s highest honor, recognizing the player who best represents the school’s values both on and off the field. That same season, he was named a Sophomore All-American while contributing on both sides of the ball, including 40 tackles and five tackles for loss defensively.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has long emphasized building the offensive line through size, development, and competitive depth—and Delaney checks each box.
“Leo is another big-bodied tackle that we really, really fought hard to get,” Swinney said. “And really glad that it went our way with him.”
Delaney committed to Clemson on June 4, signed on Dec. 3, and is expected to enroll early in January, giving him a head start in the weight room and spring practice. With roster turnover looming and opportunity ahead, Delaney’s arrival comes at a pivotal moment for Clemson’s offensive line.