Clemson Athletics is putting a spotlight on Montgomery County native Ryan Linthicum, as highlighted last week in a feature by Clemson staff writer Ashby Mixon, recognizing the Damascus alum’s emergence as a key piece of the Tigers’ offensive line. Linthicum, a 6’3, 305-pound center, entered the 2025 season with more than 1,085 career snaps over 23 games (14 starts), and Clemson’s website describes him as a “breakout contributor in 2024.”
Linthicum arrived at Clemson in January 2021 with one of the strongest recruiting profiles ever produced by a Montgomery County offensive lineman. He was ranked the No. 1 center in the nation and the No. 120 overall player by Rivals, a top-300 national prospect and No. 4 center by ESPN, and the No. 8 center nationally by 247Sports. He was a PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team selection, a four-star recruit, and an Under Armour All-America Game invitee. Linthicum committed to the Tigers in September 2019 after being recruited by Robbie Caldwell and Mike Reed, becoming Clemson’s second signee from Damascus in two years following future NFL first-round pick Bryan Bresee.
A multi-sport athlete at Damascus, playing football, basketball, and lacrosse, Linthicum did not have a 2020 high school season due to the COVID-19 pandemic but arrived on campus ready for Clemson’s development-focused approach. After gradually working his way into the lineup, he became a full-time starter in 2024, earning praise from coaches while logging more than 1,000 career snaps entering the 2025 campaign. He also earned his degree in criminal justice in December 2024.
Mixon’s profile highlights both Linthicum’s consistency and his strong ties to Montgomery County, noting his long history with Bresee and the influence of their shared roots at Damascus High School. Now a graduate leader on the Tigers’ offensive front, Linthicum continues to represent MoCo on the national stage as one of the area’s most accomplished football products in recent years.
