For Brayden Jacobs, Clemson’s offensive shift this preseason hasn’t been about a new playbook or a new wrinkle.
It’s been about how the Tigers are carrying themselves.
The sophomore offensive lineman said after practice on Aug. 17 that Clemson has shown a noticeably tougher edge up front during camp, especially when the run game gets going. He pointed to the way the offensive line has attacked blocks and finished plays through the whistle.
“I mean, I think we've been a lot better. Especially the offensive line being more aggressive and physical in the run game, hand fits and stuff like that,” Jacobs said.
“I've definitely seen it. Throughout the scrimmage, we've popped multiple longer runs just based off of us giving effort to the whistle blows and just finishing plays.”
That kind of tone matters for a Clemson offense that needs more on the ground after a rough 2025. The Tigers averaged 124.5 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry last season, finishing with 1,618 rushing yards in 13 games and a 7-6 record.
Jacobs thinks the line is starting to look like a group ready to change that. At 6-foot-7 and 355 pounds, he’s part of a huge room that also includes 325-pound Elyjah Thurmon, who is back after injury, along with several other linemen listed at 300 pounds or more. But for Jacobs, the identity he wants isn’t just tied to the number on the scale.
“I mean, it's the expectation,” Jacobs said. “A lot of offensive lines in the country are gonna be big. I just love playing next to all those guys.”
He also said the backs have helped push that mindset, bringing more aggression of their own and helping spark longer runs during preseason scrimmages.
Still, Jacobs sees the biggest difference as something that goes beyond brute force. In his view, this offense feels more together than the one Clemson put on the field a year ago.
“I think just last year, our team might not have been as connected as we are this year,” Jacobs said. “I feel like this year, quarterbacks, running backs, O-line, we're all connected.”
And when he summed up the mood around the offense, he kept it simple.
“I think it's just more of a commitment; this team is more committed than we were last year,” Jacobs said. “We're hungry. We're hungry to win.”
Clemson will have its first real chance to show that new edge under the lights at LSU. For Jacobs and the offensive line, though, the bar goes well beyond being the bigger group in the trenches.
“We have to make sure that we're the best offensive line in the country,” Jacobs said.
In Other News...
Clemsons Playoff Hopes Just Got An Early National Reality Check
ESPNs early look at the top 100 college football players entering the 2026 season offered a small but useful snapshot of where Clemson stands nationally, and it included three Tigers who figure to shape the conversation around the programs playoff chances. Offensive tackle Brayden Jacobs came in at No. 91, edge rusher Will Heldt at No. 87, and linebacker Sammy Brown landed much higher at No. 39, a sign that Clemsons most important pieces are already drawing attention before the season even gets going.
For Clemson, the takeaway is less about the exact order and more about the company it keeps. Having three players on a list like this underscores the level of talent on the roster, especially on the lines and at linebacker, where Jacobs and Heldt are projected to help steady the front and Brown is viewed as one of the teams top defensive playmakers. ESPNs rankings are only projections, of course, but they also serve as an early national reminder that Clemsons path back into the playoff picture will likely ride on whether those expected standouts play up to the billing. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Defense May Hinge On 3 NFL-Caliber Playmakers
Clemsons defense has been built around the idea that a few high-end playmakers can lift the entire unit, and that formula may be especially important this season. Will Heldt, Sammy Brown and Ashton Hampton are all being mentioned as possible NFL-caliber talents, with their names already showing up in national player rankings and even a way-too-early mock draft projection for 2027. For a defense that needs to take a step forward, that kind of recognition is more than a compliment. It is a reminder that the Tigers have a core group capable of setting the tone.
The question is whether those three can carry the weight Clemson needs from them while the rest of the defense settles in, particularly up front. The defensive line remains an area with concerns, and the overall unit has to improve if the Tigers are going to look like a contender again. Heldt, Brown and Hampton bring production, leadership and upside, but Clemsons margin for error may come down to how consistently that trio can influence games when the defense needs it most. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Just Lost Another Guard To An ACC Team Fans Know Well
Efrem Butta Johnson is heading to a familiar ACC stop for his final season of college basketball, leaving Clemson after one year to transfer to Virginia Tech. The guard spent his first two seasons at UAB before joining the Tigers, where he settled into a rotation role and averaged 6.3 points per game last season.
Virginia Tech gives Johnson a chance to finish his college career in a system run by Mike Young, whose teams have already reached the NCAA Tournament twice. For Clemson, its another backcourt departure to track, while for the Hokies, Johnson is expected to help in the push to get back into the field. [Read more 🡒]