Bryan Bresee scouting report: Clemson defensive sort out gives excessive upside

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

A former five-star recruit and high total recruit within the nation within the 2020 class, Bresee was a extremely coveted participant. He selected Clemson over many different gives and located rapid enjoying time, beginning 10 video games his freshman season. Bresee managed a third-team All-ACC choice in 2021 regardless of enjoying 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 attributable to 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.

2023 NFL Draft Choice

The brand new Orleans Saints chosen Bryan Bresee with the No. 29 total choose within the 2023 NFL Draft. For full protection of the Bryan Bresee choose, head over to Canal Road Chronicles.

What makes Bryan Bresee such a high-upside prospect?

Bresee is a uncommon athlete on the line of defense, 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 occasions. Bresee additionally possesses wonderful explosiveness, with a lightning-quick first step that enables him to create prompt penetration to influence performs within the backfield. His spotlight reel performs are up there with a number 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 creating in entrance of him. Bresee is efficient at knifing between linemen and rapidly discovering his manner into the backfield. Considered one of his finest traits is his motor, as Bresee is relentless when monitoring down performs in pursuit. He offers large effort on each down and doesn’t take any performs off. Bresee exhibits flashes of efficient hand utilization, significantly in opposition to the run, that give quite a lot of hope for his future projection.

Bresee additionally possesses a robust body for the place, coming in at over 6’5 and practically 300 kilos. That, mixed along with his elite athletic profile, offers him a really excessive ceiling within the NFL. He’s additionally proven quite a lot of versatility all through his profession at Clemson, lining up everywhere in the defensive entrance. Bresee spent a major variety of snaps enjoying each 5T and 4i defensive finish along with his reps as a 3T and even 1T defensive sort out. He’s bought the motion abilities to proceed transferring round on the NFL stage, and will probably have a flexible inside/outdoors position 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 faculty profession. A part of the rationale for that has been injury-related—Bresee suffered an ACL tear which value him many of the 2021 season—and a significant knee situation like that additionally raises attainable medical issues.

Bodily, Bresee checks all of the packing containers however one: he lacks very best size with simply 32.5-inch arms. That’s simply twenty fifth percentile, and has led to points with ending performs attributable to a restricted sort out radius. Bresee is a really uncooked go rusher with little in the best way of counters, go rush strikes, or any form of go rush plan. He’s bought an extended method 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 due to his above-average measurement and excellent pace and agility testing. At over 6’5 and virtually 300 kilos, Bresee ran an unimaginable 4.86s 40-yard sprint and 1.65s 10-yard break up. He additionally put up an incredible 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 sort out who performs with a robust want to get previous the person in entrance of him. Bresee hardly ever 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 a great run defender with a capability to disrupt the pocket inside his first few NFL seasons.

Bryan Bresee is a proficient inside defensive lineman with very excessive upside and potential positional versatility. His athleticism at his measurement is uncommon and will probably be very tempting, significantly for NFL groups with the endurance and experience to develop him. I imagine endurance will probably be a necessity with Bresee, nevertheless, as he’s removed from a completed product as a go 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 sort out, I’d anticipate groups to take a shot on Bresee within the backside half of the primary spherical. NFL groups are at all times in search of athletes with prototypical measurement and upside, and Bresee checks each of these packing containers (outdoors of arm size). The massive query is: how lengthy will it take for Bresee to place all of it collectively on the sector?