Carter Scruggs, Four-Star Offensive Lineman, Commits to Clemson Football Over Powerhouses Georgia and Michigan in Major Recruiting Win

Clemson football scored a significant victory on the recruiting trail with the commitment of Carter Scruggs, a four-star offensive lineman out of Georgia who chose the Tigers over perennial college football juggernauts Georgia and Michigan. Scruggs’ decision represents more than just another commitment in the 2026 class—it is a major statement by head coach Dabo Swinney and his staff that Clemson remains an elite destination for top-tier talent, even in the face of intensified recruiting competition and shifting dynamics across the college football landscape.

Scruggs, who plays at Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia, is one of the top interior offensive linemen in the country. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 305 pounds, he possesses the ideal blend of size, athleticism, and football IQ that has made him a coveted prospect for over two dozen Power Five programs. His technique in both pass protection and run blocking is advanced for his age, and he plays with a level of physicality and polish that immediately jumps out on film. Scruggs’ commitment gives Clemson a foundational piece for its 2026 recruiting class and helps solidify the Tigers’ future in the trenches.

The recruitment of Scruggs was intense and spanned over a year, with dozens of schools making their pitches to the rising star. However, it eventually came down to three programs: Clemson, Georgia, and Michigan. Each program offered a unique blend of prestige, development, and recent success, but ultimately, Scruggs said it was the culture and consistency at Clemson that swayed him to the Tigers.

In his announcement, Scruggs pointed to Clemson’s family-oriented atmosphere, the opportunity for early playing time, and the long-standing relationship he had built with offensive line coach Matt Luke and Dabo Swinney. “Coach Swinney has built something special at Clemson,” Scruggs said in a statement. “It’s a place where players develop, not just as athletes but as men. I trust their plan for me, and I want to be part of the legacy.”

Scruggs’ commitment also highlights the strong job Clemson has done in adapting to the changing landscape of college football recruiting. With Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals becoming a major factor and the transfer portal creating more movement than ever before, maintaining a recruiting stronghold has become increasingly difficult. Still, Clemson has managed to stay consistent in its messaging and identity. Swinney and his staff have remained selective, targeting players who not only possess elite talent but also fit into Clemson’s culture—a formula that has led to sustained success.

For Clemson, landing Scruggs is more than just a recruiting victory—it fills a critical long-term need. Over the past few seasons, the Tigers have had a revolving door on the offensive line due to early NFL departures and transfers, and depth has at times been tested. With Scruggs’ versatility—he has played both guard and tackle in high school—he offers the staff options across multiple positions and could potentially make an early impact depending on how he develops over the next year. His high football IQ and work ethic suggest he will be a quick study at the collegiate level.

While Georgia was considered a frontrunner for Scruggs early on, especially given his in-state status and the Bulldogs’ recent dominance in the trenches, the appeal of carving his own path outside the state seemed to grow stronger over time. Michigan, too, was very much in the race, offering Scruggs the opportunity to join one of the most physically dominant offensive line traditions in college football. The Wolverines had multiple in-person visits with him and made a strong final push, but Clemson never lost ground and ultimately emerged as the choice that felt most authentic to Scruggs and his family.

This win also provides a momentum boost to Clemson’s broader 2026 recruiting class, which now includes several blue-chip prospects on both sides of the ball. The Tigers are looking to restock after several years where recruiting results, while still solid, weren’t quite up to the same level as their national championship runs in 2016 and 2018. Getting Scruggs on board early allows Clemson to build around him and potentially attract more elite talent, especially along the offensive and defensive lines. In many ways, these types of commitments can act as dominoes—once one highly ranked player joins, others are more likely to follow.

It’s also a validation of the work offensive line coach Matt Luke has done since joining the staff. A former head coach at Ole Miss and a highly regarded offensive line technician, Luke has brought renewed energy and attention to detail in recruiting offensive linemen. His pedigree and experience coaching NFL-caliber linemen helped assure Scruggs and his family that Clemson was the right fit from a developmental standpoint. Scruggs noted in interviews that Luke’s consistent communication, honesty, and passion for developing young players left a lasting impression.

Clemson’s staff also leaned heavily on the program’s academic support, strong graduation rate, and family atmosphere. Scruggs comes from a tight-knit family and made it clear throughout the recruiting process that relationships would play a big role in his decision. The chance to be part of a community where he felt truly supported—on and off the field—tipped the scales in Clemson’s favor. Swinney’s approach to building a player-first culture paid dividends here, and it’s a blueprint the program has leaned on for years with great success.

For Swinney, adding Scruggs is also a reminder to fans and critics alike that Clemson is not going anywhere. In recent years, some pundits have questioned whether Clemson could continue to recruit at an elite level, especially with the rise of NIL collectives and shifting power dynamics in conferences. But this commitment serves as a clear message: Clemson can still go head-to-head with the top dogs in recruiting and come out on top.

From a technical standpoint, Scruggs is a plug-and-play type of player once he gets acclimated to the college game. He has strong hands, quick feet for his size, and rarely gets beat in pass protection. His run-blocking is aggressive and disciplined—he plays with a low pad level and is adept at pulling in space or climbing to the second level. These traits make him valuable in a number of offensive schemes, though his fit in Clemson’s power-run and RPO-based offense seems ideal. With continued physical development and college-level coaching, Scruggs could become a multi-year starter and an eventual NFL prospect.

Scruggs also brings leadership qualities to the table. His high school coaches rave about his character, preparation, and accountability. He was named a team captain as a junior and is widely regarded as a locker-room glue guy—someone who builds up teammates and takes pride in the little things. These intangibles matter at the college level, especially in offensive line rooms where chemistry and trust are critical to success.

Looking ahead, Scruggs is expected to enroll early, giving him a chance to go through spring practices in 2026 and potentially earn immediate reps. Whether he plays right away or takes a redshirt year will depend on his physical readiness and Clemson’s depth chart at the time, but either way, his long-term potential is sky-high. He will enter a competitive yet supportive environment, one that has produced multiple NFL offensive linemen and prides itself on player development.

With this commitment, Clemson continues to build a 2026 class that addresses needs while sticking to the program’s values. The Tigers are not necessarily going after the highest-ranked class every year, but they are going after the right players—those who want to be part of something greater than themselves, who buy into the culture and are willing to compete and grow. Carter Scruggs fits that mold perfectly.

His choice to don the orange and white over Georgia’s red and black or Michigan’s maize and blue will be scrutinized, especially in the SEC-heavy recruiting world of the South. But for Scruggs, this was never about staying close to home or joining the biggest NIL war chest. It was about trust, belief in the vision, and finding a football family. At Clemson, he believes he’s found all three. And for the Tigers, that belief may just be the cornerstone of another championship-caliber team in the making.