Clemson’s 2028 recruiting board picked up another major name on Sunday, and this one comes with a twist. Four-star interior offensive lineman Sam Walker included the Tigers in his top three, but Clemson is battling two familiar programs for him: Georgia Tech and South Carolina.
Walker made the announcement with a social media post listing Clemson, Georgia Tech and South Carolina as his finalists. The Central High School standout from Carrollton, Georgia, is one of the more sought-after linemen in the class, and he’s narrowed things down after holding 19 official offers.
According to the 247 Sports Composite, Walker is ranked as the No. 12 player from Georgia, the No. 7 interior offensive lineman in the country and the No. 109 overall prospect in the 2028 recruiting cycle. Clemson offensive line coach Matt Luke is his primary recruiter, and Rivals currently has the Tigers as a heavy, early lean.
That puts Clemson in a strong spot, especially after landing four-star quarterback Trace Hawkins to open its 2028 class on a high note. But this recruitment is far from finished, and the Tigers will have to hold off two schools that make this race more complicated than most.
South Carolina is Clemson’s biggest rival, while Georgia Tech looms as a significant ACC opponent. If there’s a program Clemson has to watch most closely here, it may actually be Georgia Tech.
Carrollton sits as an exurb of Atlanta near the Alabama border, which gives the Jackets a geographic edge. Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key also brings an obvious connection, having played offensive line and grown up in suburban Birmingham before heading to the Jackets.
There’s also the stability factor. Dabo Swinney is firmly established at Clemson, while Shane Beamer has had success at South Carolina. The source also notes that unless Key really wants to leave Atlanta, he can keep building roots around North Avenue in Midtown.
For Clemson, the message is simple: Matt Luke and Dabo Swinney need to close this one. The Tigers already have Hawkins in the fold, and if they want to keep momentum rolling in 2028, Walker is the kind of front-five target they can’t afford to let slip away.
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