It’s been quite some time since Braden Wilmes has been to Clemson for a game.
The 3-star offensive lineman (Lawrence Free State, KS) was in Death Valley for the Tigers’ 66-20 rout of App State, the first time he has attended a game since he was three years old.
There were multiple things that stood out to the high school junior, with how well the Tigers played and the wild environment being one of the things at the top of the list.
“The coaches had the team ready to go and the the guys came out and played really well,” Wilmes told The Clemson Insider. “The fans were into it and it got incredibly loud.”
Wilmes also enjoyed getting to experience firsthand some of Clemson’s pregame and postgame traditions.
“They arranged the recruits to be up close to the players as they got off the buses and ran down the hill,” he said. “We also got to celebrate the win in the locker room with the team and hear from Coach Swinney. Something I will not forget.”
Despite going to high school in Kansas, Wilmes does have a connection to the Clemson program. His mother is a graduate and he is a lifelong fan. Both of his parents accompanied him on this visit and all three came away overly impressed with the experience.
Since the beginning of the contact period in June, Wilmes’ relationship with offensive line coach Matt Luke has only grown stronger, despite the fact that he is still early in the process. Assistant offensive line coach Carson Cramer has also been involved and the 6-foot-8, 280-pound prospect appreciates how transparent both have been with him.
“I’ve had the opportunity to talk with both him and Coach Carson Cramer a few times over the last couple of months,” Wilmes added. “Like any recruit in the early stages of the recruiting process, we’re getting to know each other. I’ve come to appreciate their honesty with me and am looking forward to seeing how I could fit into the Tigers’ offensive line room in the future.”
Wilmes currently has offers from Wisconsin, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Utah, Iowa State, Iowa, Arkansas and he is also hearing a lot from Northwestern.
However, it’s the Clemson offer he is looking to add at some point in the future.
“It would mean quite a lot to me,” he said. “I have been a fan my entire life and it would be amazing to have a chance to go and play for the team I have rooted for my entire life.”
While Wilmes has yet to firm up any timeline on making a decision, he said he could see himself making a commitment by late spring next year, or maybe early summer. The hope is to get back to Clemson for another game at some point this season, and then return for one of the junior days early in 2025.
As he continues to navigate this process, Wilmes is looking for the best fit, but at the same time, he is extremely focused on his junior season.
“I’m trying to find the right balance between great academics, location, football skills development, and of course, a sense of family between coaches, staff and my future teammates,” Wilmes said. “I’ve got tremendous opportunities with each school showing interest in me and I’m very thankful to be in this position. For now, however, I want to spend as much time as I can focusing on my junior season, being a great teammate and doing everything I can to help my team be as successful as possible.”
Photo courtesy of Braden Wilmes on X (formerly known as Twitter)
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