Smart Details Impact Matt Luke Can Have on Clemson Offensive Line

Kirby Smart is extremely familiar with the kind of impact Matt Luke can have on an offensive line.

Luke spent two seasons as Smart’s offensive line coach, as well as associate head coach, helping guide Georgia to a national title in 2021 before stepping away from the game to spend more time with his family.

After two years away from the sport, Luke decided he was ready to come back, joining Dabo Swinney’s staff ahead of Clemson’s thrilling comeback win over Kentucky in the Gator Bowl last season. With the amount of experience the Tigers have returning along the offensive line in 2024, Smart believes there will be a smooth transition.

“They’ve got a tremendous offensive line in terms of the amount of experience they have starting,” Smart said. “I would have thought ours was one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country, but theirs has got more starts than ours.”

Clemson returns four starters from a season ago, with Blake Miller, Walker Parks and Marcus Tate all having started for multiple seasons. With that kind of experience returning Smart expects the Tigers to be physical under the tutelage of Luke.

“Toughness. He’s got an extremely experienced offensive line,” Smart said. “I want to say it’s almost 100 starts. Three of the five guys have over 25 or something. That’s crazy. Very rare in college football to have a person with more than 25 starts because that means he stayed, or at least they’re coming into their third season starting.”

Smart has seen firsthand what kind of impact Luke can have on a program, and he expects no different now that he is coaching at Clemson.

“I know Matt will do a tremendous job,” Smart added. “They’ll play with toughness, effort. I’m sure he’ll add some wrinkles to their offense. He’s a really good football coach.”

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!