Clemson Gaining Momentum in the 2026 Recruiting Cycle
- Charles Mays
- Mar 9
- 2 min read
“We’ve won here, not because we’ve out-recruited everybody. When have we ever had a number one recruiting class?”
Those were the words of Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney at the opening of spring practice. While there is still plenty of time left in the 2026 recruiting cycle and more commitments to come, and you know someone always seems to de-commit, Clemson finds itself in an unfamiliar position, within striking distance of a top-ranked class.
With this weekend’s commitments, the Tigers now sit as high as fifth and sixth in the rankings according to 247Sports and Rivals, respectively, while On3 places them at No. 9. If more highly touted prospects commit in the coming months, Clemson could be in contention for its best recruiting class yet.
Elite Retreat Yields Big Recruiting Results
Clemson had a highly successful weekend hosting The Elite Retreat, a premier recruiting event that resulted in several key commitments. And there may be more to come.
One of the biggest storylines has been the impact of offensive line coach Matt Luke. Since taking over, Luke has played a crucial role in reshaping Clemson’s offensive line unit, both in terms of development and recruiting. His efforts paid off in a major way this weekend, landing two four-star offensive linemen:
Adam Guthrie (Miami Trace – Washington Court House, Ohio)
Grant Wise (Pace – Milton, Florida)
Luke's ability to secure top-tier talent in the trenches has been a game-changer, and he deserves immense credit for the unit’s resurgence.
Clemson Stacking Talent at Wide Receiver
Wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham also made waves, adding two talented four-star wideouts to the Tigers’ 2026 class:
Naeem Burroughs (The Bolles School – Jacksonville, Florida)
Connor Salmin (The Bullis School – Purcellville, Virginia)
Both commitments came on Saturday night, strengthening Clemson’s depth at the position and continuing the tradition of elite receivers playing in Death Valley.
With momentum building, the Tigers are setting themselves up for a strong finish to the 2026 cycle. If they continue at this pace, Dabo Swinney’s program may soon find itself in rare territory, competing for one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. Stay tuned as we will bring you the latest updates, as the Tigers bring in more commitments.
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