Bryan Bresee scouting report: Clemson defensive deal with affords excessive upside

The 2023 NFL Draft options a variety of expertise on the prime, with positions like quarterback, edge rusher, cornerback, and offensive deal with prone to dominate the primary spherical. One spot the place there’s a major lack of depth is at defensive deal with, which includes a star on the prime in Georgia’s Jalen Carter however restricted choices behind him. One of the vital intriguing prospects on this comparatively skinny place group is Clemson’s Bryan Bresee.

A former five-star recruit and prime general recruit within the nation within the 2020 class, Bresee was a extremely coveted participant. He selected Clemson over many different affords and located speedy taking part in time, beginning 10 video games his freshman season. Bresee managed a third-team All-ACC choice in 2021 regardless of taking part in in solely 4 video games earlier than struggling a season-ending ACL tear.

His 2022 season was sadly impacted by a household tragedy, as Bresee’s sister, Ella, handed away from mind most cancers. He additionally missed time because of a kidney an infection late within the 12 months, ending the season with simply seven begins in 10 video games. Bresee was nonetheless awarded a second-team All-ACC choice in restricted motion.

What makes Bryan Bresee such a high-upside prospect?

Bresee is a uncommon athlete on the defensive position, and it’s apparent from the primary second you activate his tape. He’s a easy mover with elite lateral mobility for an inside defensive lineman, and appears extra like an edge rusher at instances. Bresee additionally possesses wonderful explosiveness, with a lightning-quick first step that permits him to create immediate penetration to affect performs within the backfield. His spotlight reel performs are up there with a few of the most spectacular defensive linemen within the class.

He’s additionally a sensible participant up entrance who’s fast to learn and react to blocks growing in entrance of him. Bresee is efficient at knifing between linemen and rapidly discovering his method into the backfield. One among his greatest traits is his motor, as Bresee is relentless when monitoring down performs in pursuit. He offers great effort on each down and doesn’t take any performs off. Bresee reveals flashes of efficient hand utilization, notably in opposition to the run, that give a variety of hope for his future projection.

Bresee additionally possesses a powerful body for the place, coming in at over 6’5 and practically 300 kilos. That, mixed together with his elite athletic profile, offers him a really excessive ceiling within the NFL. He’s additionally proven a variety of versatility all through his profession at Clemson, lining up all around the defensive entrance. Bresee spent a major variety of snaps taking part in each 5T and 4i defensive finish along with his reps as a 3T and even 1T defensive deal with. He’s obtained the motion abilities to proceed transferring round on the NFL degree, and will probably have a flexible inside/exterior function for a a number of entrance protection.

What are the weaknesses in Bryan Bresee’s recreation?

There are some things that give me pause when evaluating a prospect like Bresee. The primary is the shortage of high-end manufacturing, as Bresee by no means managed greater than 4.0 sacks or 6.5 TFL in a season. Each of these career-high numbers additionally got here from his freshman season, and usually you’re in search of a participant to enhance over the course of their school profession. A part of the rationale for that has been injury-related—Bresee suffered an ACL tear which price him a lot of the 2021 season—and a serious knee difficulty like that additionally raises potential medical issues.

Bodily, Bresee checks all of the bins however one: he lacks excellent size with simply 32.5-inch arms. That’s simply twenty fifth percentile, and has led to points with ending performs because of a restricted deal with radius. Bresee is a really uncooked cross rusher with little in the best way of counters, cross rush strikes, or any kind of cross rush plan. He’s obtained an extended technique to go earlier than he’ll be a dependable presence on passing downs. As a run defender, Bresee has some actually spectacular flashes, however the down-to-down consistency left one thing to be desired.

Bryan Bresee profession highlights

Bryan Bresee outcomes on the 2023 NFL Mix

Bryan Bresee examined out with an elite 9.61 Relative Athletic Rating because of his above-average dimension and excellent velocity and agility testing. At over 6’5 and nearly 300 kilos, Bresee ran an unimaginable 4.86s 40-yard sprint and 1.65s 10-yard cut up. He additionally put up a tremendous 4.38s brief shuttle and wonderful 7.41s 3-cone. Bresee’s athleticism is obvious each on tape and within the Mix testing.

What others are saying about Bryan Bresee

Right here’s how NFL Community draft analyst Lance Zierlein described Bryan Bresee in his official scouting report:

Burly however athletic inside deal with who performs with a powerful want to get previous the person in entrance of him. Bresee not often will get caught up in lengthy block engagements and possesses a deep anchor to battle double groups…If he can keep wholesome and achieve much-needed expertise, Bresee ought to proceed to progress at his place and develop into run defender with a capability to disrupt the pocket inside his first few NFL seasons.

Bryan Bresee is a gifted inside defensive lineman with very excessive upside and potential positional versatility. His athleticism at his dimension is uncommon and can be very tempting, notably for NFL groups with the persistence and experience to develop him. I imagine persistence can be a necessity with Bresee, nonetheless, as he’s removed from a completed product as a cross rusher and is at present inconsistent in opposition to the run.

Nonetheless, in what’s shaping as much as be a really skinny class at defensive deal with, I’d count on groups to take a shot on Bresee within the backside half of the primary spherical. NFL groups are all the time in search of athletes with prototypical dimension and upside, and Bresee checks each of these bins (exterior of arm size). The massive query is: how lengthy will it take for Bresee to place all of it collectively on the sphere?