Veteran Proclaims 'This Offensive Line is Much Better'

With Matt Luke now overseeing Clemson’s offensive line, there is a lot of confidence surrounding that group as the No. 14 Tigers head into their season-opening matchup against top-ranked Georgia in Atlanta on Saturday.

After missing much of last season with an injury, veteran Marcus Tate was asked on Tuesday how much improvement can be expected from the Tigers up front with the veteran Luke coaching the group, and the senior guard was quite clear with his response.

“This offensive line is much better,” Tate proclaimed.

Tate credits much of that improvement to how the players inside of that room have been determined to field a more cohesive unit. That has led to more trust, which Tate believes will lead to better production.

“When you are around a bunch of guys every day, just seeing the work they they are putting in, being very intentional, just people putting in work to do whatever, that builds confidence, that builds unity,” Tate said. “And I think for us as a line, just doing everything together, a lot of us have more trust in each other and the dude next to us.”

That trust is crucial to building a cohesive unit, and as the Tigers get ready to head to Atlanta, Tate insists this offensive line is different.

“That’s what you need in a line. You need a camaraderie, you need that unity,” Tate said. “To see the transformation a lot of guys took this offseason, I think everybody will see that for sure.”

Opening against Georgia also reminds Tate of his first collegiate game as a freshman. Tate made his very first start in Clemson’s 10-3 loss to the Bulldogs to open the 2021 season in Charlotte.

The veteran feels like his career is now coming full circle, but this time Tate is hoping for a different result.

“I remember going against them and having big eyes going out there,” Tate said. “I think now I am much more focused, much more mature and I am just very excited for the opportunity to get to play them again and the opportunity of going and playing the number one team in the country. Knowing that it is my senior year, my first game and knowing I started my career playing against them, it’s an awful circle for me, so it is very much a blessing.”

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