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

The 2023 NFL Draft options a number of expertise on the high, with positions like quarterback, edge rusher, cornerback, and offensive sort out more likely to dominate the primary spherical. One spot the place there’s a major lack of depth is at defensive sort out, which contains a star on the high 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 high total recruit within the nation within the 2020 class, Bresee was a extremely coveted participant. He selected Clemson over many different provides and located instant 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 yr, 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 clean mover with elite lateral mobility for an inside defensive lineman, and appears extra like an edge rusher at instances. Bresee additionally possesses glorious explosiveness, with a lightning-quick first step that enables him to create instantaneous penetration to influence 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 creating in entrance of him. Bresee is efficient at knifing between linemen and shortly discovering his approach into the backfield. Considered one of his finest 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 exhibits flashes of efficient hand utilization, notably towards the run, that give a number of hope for his future projection.

Bresee additionally possesses a powerful body for the place, coming in at over 6’5 and almost 300 kilos. That, mixed along with his elite athletic profile, offers him a really excessive ceiling within the NFL. He’s additionally proven a number 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 received the motion expertise to proceed transferring round on the NFL stage, and will probably have a flexible inside/exterior position for a a number of entrance protection.

What are the weaknesses in Bryan Bresee’s sport?

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 price him a lot of the 2021 season—and a significant knee difficulty like that additionally raises potential medical considerations.

Bodily, Bresee checks all of the packing containers however one: he lacks preferrred 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 cross rusher with little in the way in which of counters, cross rush strikes, or any kind of cross rush plan. He’s received a protracted strategy 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 measurement and excellent pace and agility testing. At over 6’5 and virtually 300 kilos, Bresee ran an unbelievable 4.86s 40-yard sprint and 1.65s 10-yard break up. He additionally put up a tremendous 4.38s brief shuttle and glorious 7.41s 3-cone. Bresee’s athleticism is evident 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 powerful 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 acquire much-needed expertise, Bresee ought to proceed to progress at his place and turn out to be a very good 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 measurement is uncommon and can be very tempting, notably for NFL groups with the endurance and experience to develop him. I consider endurance can be a necessity with Bresee, nonetheless, as he’s removed from a completed product as a cross rusher and is presently inconsistent towards 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 (exterior of arm size). The large query is: how lengthy will it take for Bresee to place all of it collectively on the sphere?