The Clemson Insider recently caught up with an elite offensive lineman who is squarely on Clemson’s recruiting radar, as the Tigers draw closer to dishing out class of 2026 offers this summer.
Avon Lake (Ohio) four-star Maxwell Riley – one of the nation’s top-ranked offensive tackles, and one of the top-ranked prospects in the 2026 class regardless of position – continues to keep in touch with the Tigers.
“I’ve been staying in contact with Coach Luke (offensive line coach Matt Luke) and Coach Cramer (offensive player development coach Carson Cramer), calling them both a couple times every week or two,” Riley said.
Riley has traveled to Tiger Town a few times, most recently for the Tigers’ March 9 junior day.
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound rising junior also visited Clemson for the North Carolina game last November after making his way to campus last June as well.
Reflecting on his experiences at Clemson, Riley explained what stands out most to him.
“Emphasis on faith and life after football for sure,” he said. “I got a great first impression of Coach Luke as well, he seems like a good man who’s passionate about the game and his players.”
Riley – who is ranked as high as the No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 9 overall prospect in the 2026 class by Rivals – is eyeing another return trip to Clemson this summer.
“I would like to come back down at some point in June,” he said.
Clemson is one of the several schools that hosted him this spring.
“Just wrapped up all of my spring visits, I went to Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State and Ohio State,” he said. “Planning on getting back to all of those over the summer along with Florida State at the moment.”
Riley has compiled an impressive list of around 20 offers that includes schools such as Alabama, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee and Wisconsin, to name some.
Riley is certainly a candidate for a Clemson offer when the Tigers start offering 2026 recruits in June, and Clemson is among the schools sticking out to him at this stage of his recruiting process.
“I’d say those five schools previously stated so far,” he said. “Clemson, Ohio State, FSU, MSU and Alabama.”
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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