NFL Draft Profile: New Orleans Saints Select Clemson DL Bryan Bresee
In this story:
#11
Pos: iDL
Ht: 6055
Wt: 298
Hand: 1028
Arm: 3248
Wing: 7848
40: 4.86
DOB: 10/6/2001
Hometown: Damascus, MD
High School: Damascus
Eligibility: 2023
Bryan Bresee
Clemson Tigers
One-Liner:
A defensive lineman who boasts experience on the biggest stages and exhibits impressive unidirectional movement skills, power, and length, Bryan Bresee can be an elite defender if he grows more consistent with his technique and recovers from his 2021 ACL tear.
Evaluation:
Although the Clemson football program experienced a down year in 2021, most players on the team were present during at least part of its stretch as a perennial contender. Bryan Bresee was a key piece of the Tigers’ defense as a freshman and has gained experience against top-tier college offensive linemen. The Maryland native boasts a thick, long frame and notable lower and upper body strength. He flashes the ability to use his length well, sometimes leading with his hands to initiate contact. Further, he is an explosive linear and lateral mover with a good first step to penetrate or get into opponents’ frames early. He displays strong hands to throw around or otherwise disengage from linemen. Bresee is completely capable of winning leverage and driving opponents back at contact. The former five-star recruit pairs his stellar movement with somewhat-varied hand usage. Likewise, he understands blockers’ mistakes and can capitalize. His rare burst and speed at his size make him an exciting option on stunts. Against the run, Bresee typically practices clean gap discipline and has the length, burst, and power to obstruct rushing lanes well - even while engaged. He, at times, shows off a strong anchor against single or double teams. He is a solid tackler. Bresee plays with a high motor, regularly maintaining leg drive and hand work through the whistle. All that said, the Clemson standout will need to answer various questions in 2022 to ameliorate his draft profile. First and foremost, he suffered a torn ACL that ended his 2021 season after just four games. He must prove he had a smooth recovery and that his play did not suffer from the damage. Moreover, Bresee struggles with pad level at times and, as a result, gives up his chest. He can be driven and sealed if offensive linemen initiate contact with good, clean shots to his frame. If he does not play at extension, the Tigers’ star exhibits inconsistent power. Bresee also plays with wide and late hands too often, allowing offensive linemen to control him. His change of direction is underwhelming and his somewhat-stiff frame prevents him from cornering whether through contact or untouched. All in all, Bryan Bresee is a rare athlete with dominant flashes and elite potential; still, he is extremely raw and currently profiles as an early-career impact backup.
Grade:
2nd Round
Background:
Bryan Bresee is from Damascus, Maryland and during his career totaled one hundred and thirty four tackles with eighty and a half for loss. A sociology major at Clemson, he started off well in 2020 and in 2021, was named Third Team All ACC even though he was limited to only a couple of games. Breese also has had a major impact on the biggest stage where he made tackles in the ACC Championship Game and in the Sugar Bowl versus Ohio State. After being on the All ACC selection team, he will look to be a key contributor to the Tigers defense.
