2028 offensive tackle Reece Wilmes (6-5, 285) of Lawrence, KS, is no stranger to Clemson. What’s new is he’s now being recruited by the program that holds a special place in his heart. Wilmes watched his older brother, Braden, experience what it was like to be recruited by the Tigers and, very quickly, have the conviction that Clemson was his home.
Despite being a sophomore, Wilmes’ recruitment has gained momentum with Clemson’s involvement. Indiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa State, and Arkansas are just a few of the programs that have extended offers to him, as this process is just getting started.
The one thing he thoroughly enjoyed while visiting Clemson for the “Orange and White” game was the fact that Matt Luke and the rest of the staff treated him like a recruit, not just the brother of a current player.
“I was able to talk with many of the coaches, see Clemson’s facilities, meeting rooms, and tour Death Valley,” Wilmes said. “Honestly, I enjoyed every bit of my experience! As Coach Luke and Coach Cramer told me, this weekend was about me being a Tiger football recruit, not being Braden’s younger brother. Pretty awesome experience!”
One of the highlights for Wilmes was, of course, seeing his brother in orange for the first time. Within the spring game, Dabo Swinney was on the microphone, highlighting or critiquing players during the scrimmage. And while most received the heat, the now freshman tackle was the subject of praise.
“It was pretty cool hearing Coach Swinney call him out in front of everybody during the game, and I was definitely feeling a bit of nervousness for him,” Wilmes confessed. “Honestly, I thought he did pretty well under that pressure. Braden told me that it absolutely gave him some added motivation to do his job and impress the head coach. He had some pretty good reps throughout the game, that being one of them.”
The Wilmes brothers have shared the field before, so the question is, could that happen at the next level?
“I had a great time playing on the same offensive line with him last season—some pretty special memories for sure,” he said. “I’d be lying if I told you I hadn’t thought about having that opportunity again. There is still a lot of time ahead of me before that could become a reality, but I would welcome the chance to be in that position again.”