Clemson continues to stay in frequent contact with this elite offensive line prospect from the Buckeye State, and he is planning to be back in Tiger Town again this fall.
The Clemson Insider recently caught up with one of the nation’s top-ranked recruits in the 2026 class – Avon Lake (Ohio) four-star offensive tackle Maxwell Riley – to get the latest on his recruitment and where things stand with the Tigers.
“I’ve been hearing from them quite a bit,” Riley said of Clemson’s staff. “Just looking forward to continuing to build a great relationship with their staff.”
Riley is ranked among the country’s top 40 prospects in the 2026 class, regardless of position, by both Rivals (No. 33) and 247Sports (No. 37). He is the top-ranked prospect in the state of Ohio and the No. 6 offensive tackle in his class, according to 247Sports, while Rivals ranks him as the seventh-best tackle nationally.
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound junior was among the first wave of 2026 recruits to score an offer from Clemson in early June, and he has been building a strong bond with offensive line coach Matt Luke.
“I’d say I have a great relationship with him,” Riley said of Luke.
The Tigers have played host to Riley several times, most recently this summer in June. He was also on campus in the spring for Clemson’s March junior day, after visiting Death Valley for the North Carolina game last November and making his way to campus in June of last year as well.
Riley has multiple gameday visits on his calendar for the upcoming season – including a date that’s set for a return to Death Valley.
“September 14th (Michigan State), Ohio State when they play either Nebraska or Iowa, and Clemson November 23rd (vs. The Citadel),” Riley said regarding trips he has planned for this fall.
In late June, Riley – who lists more than two dozen total offers – announced the seven finalists in his recruitment, with Clemson, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State, Missouri and Michigan State all making the cut.
Riley said it’s “still the same seven schools” in his final group that he’s focused on at this point in his recruiting process.
As for Riley’s decision timing, and where Clemson stands among the top schools in his recruitment right now?
“I don’t really have a commitment timeline,” he said, “but the Tigers are towards the top of my list.”
Riley was a first-team all-conference and first-team all-district honoree as a sophomore for Avon Lake last season, when he posted more than 80 pancake blocks and allowed only one sack in 12 games.
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