As of Nov. 20, Clemson ranks in the Top 15 in both total offense (No. 10, 406.7 yards per game) and scoring offense (No. 14, 36.3 points per game) thanks in part to the Tigers’ resurgence on the offensive line in Luke’s first full season in Clemson. Luke’s unit has afforded the Tigers incredible balance, as Clemson has exceeded both 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in five different games this season, tied with Boise State, Notre Dame and Penn State for the most such games nationally in 2024. On a per-game basis, Clemson is averaging 276 passing yards and 184 rushing yards, one of only three schools nationally to average both 275+ passing yards and 180+ rushing yards per game this season (Arkansas and Washington State). Before injuries befell both his starting left tackle and starting left guard in early November, Luke’s unit had allowed only eight sacks through the first eight games of the season, tied for the 10th-fewest in the nation. But his most impressive coaching job may have been in back-to-back performances against Virginia Tech and Pitt, performances where the team’s statistical output did not adequately illustrate his impact. At Virginia Tech, Luke lost starting left guard Marcus Tate the morning of the game and then lost starting left tackle Tristan Leigh on the first drive. With swing tackle/guard Collin Sadler and backup tackle Ian Reed both already lost for the season with injuries, Luke inserted true freshman Elyjah Thurmon, who went on to earn team Offensive Player of the Week honors after playing 74 remarkable snaps in the game and helping power running back Phil Mafah to 128 rushing yards. Buoyed by Thurmon’s strong performance, Luke and his line entered the following game at Pitt with Thurmon as the starting left tackle with Leigh and Tate still unavailable. Best laid plans derailed immediately as Thurmon was lost for the season on the game’s first offensive snap. Luke then shuffled his offensive line as right tackle Blake Miller moved to left tackle, right guard Walker Parks moved to right tackle, left guard Harris Sewell moved to right guard and depth reserve Trent Howard entered at right guard. With new players in four of the five offensive line positions for 73 of Clemson’s 74 snaps in the game, Clemson earned a 24-20 win capped by the line perfectly picking up a Pitt twist that sprung quarterback Cade Klubnik on the game-winning 50-yard touchdown run with 1:16 remaining. “He demands excellence. He says that practice doesn’t make perfect; it makes permanent,” veteran offensive lineman Walker Parks said. “I love Coach Luke. He’s a great man, a great coach as well, so I’m honored to play for him.”
