Clemson football had a quick moment in the spotlight on Thursday night when Blake Miller came off the board early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Detroit Lions used the No. 17 pick on the former Tiger, making him Clemson’s first selection this year and adding another first-rounder to Dabo Swinney’s track record.
“It would be a tremendous honor to have that for our university and all of our coaches and staff that had poured into me over the years,” Miller said before the draft. “It is a testament to them as well.”
Miller’s time in Clemson stands out for one simple reason, he was always available. He opened every game across four seasons, totaling 54 starts, and logged a program-best 3,778 snaps. That level of consistency made him one of the most dependable players the Tigers have had in recent years.
That reliability showed up in his accolades, too. After earning Freshman All-American honors early in his career, Miller stacked three straight All-ACC seasons to close things out. Few Clemson linemen have matched that kind of run, especially while handling such a heavy workload each year.
There’s also a bigger-picture angle to his selection. Miller becomes the first Clemson offensive lineman drafted in the first round since before the Common Draft era, giving the program a rare milestone up front. He also keeps Clemson’s recent draft momentum going, with the Tigers now regularly sending players into the first round.
For Miller, it’s the next step after building his reputation on consistency and toughness. For Clemson, it’s another name added to a growing list of early draft picks.
Here’s a look at how social media reacted to Blake Miller being drafted in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
With the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 @NFLDraft, the @Lions select Blake Miller. @NewEraCapNFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABCStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/UOOELMOiyP
Blake Miller was drafted in round 1 with pick 17 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.90 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 17 out of 1645 OT from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/7Z6ntfg8MN pic.twitter.com/iaWcj8yfJ6
Blake Miller played almost exclusively RT at Clemson, so this likely means Penei Sewell will flip to LT. https://t.co/FrZVGcCjmk
Clemson OT Blake Miller selected in first round of 2026 NFL Draft📸 USA TODAY Sports https://t.co/UOPRcjq6z9 pic.twitter.com/YbeP0XJoGe
The @Lions just got stability at Tackle with Blake Miller out of Clemson. 6’7” 317lbs of an offensive tackle that has sharpened his pass pro EVERY year, has veteran-level stunt recognition, foot quickness & recovery due his 54 straight starts. His lateral agility & punch timing… pic.twitter.com/zBEzjbZ5lG
1.17 Detroit Lions - Clemson OT Blake MillerA FREAKISH athlete to replace Penei Sewell, who will be playing LT in 2026. I liked Iheanachor a bit more, but this is a great pick.Grade: B+ pic.twitter.com/oLGTzCrS4D
Clemson OT Blake Miller is headed to Detroit 👀🦁 pic.twitter.com/FORhqCu3yZ
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) April 24, 2026
New Lions OT Blake Miller started over 50 games at Clemson at RT, so this should likely cements Penei Sewell’s move to LT in Detroit. https://t.co/yNI3mY1y7C
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Social media reactions to Blake Miller drafted first round NFL Draft