Clemson Football: Myles Murphy, Bryan Bresee already surpassed veterans

Two freshmen for Clemson football have already surpassed veterans

When it comes down to it, two Clemson football freshmen have done what we simply haven’t seen many be able to do since Dabo Swinney took over the program: Beat out veterans through the early part of their career.

There just aren’t a ton of examples of freshmen stepping into the Clemson football program and making an immediate impact, much less basically becoming starters just a game or two into the season. But that’s exactly what both Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee have done.

Bresee was announced as a co-starter at defensive tackle following preseason camp and he has already basically taken over a starting role, despite the depth and talent at the position that included both Nyles Pinckney and Jordan Williams.

While Murphy is still listed as a second-stringer at defensive end, he has played starter-level snaps and- though we’re just two games into the season- he is the current leader in tackles (10), sacks (2) and tackles for loss (5) for the Tigers.

These are two special Clemson football freshmen

Even some of the top freshmen in the Dabo Swinney era didn’t come in and win starting jobs right away. (Look at Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson, for example) and there have been very few who made major impacts along the lines of scrimmage outside of Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins.

As we just said, It’s very rare that we’ve seen one Clemson football freshman come in and make an impact, but now the Tigers have two college-ready freshmen at their disposal who very well may end up with national honors before the season is finished.

What’s going to stop Murphy from finishing the year with double-digit sacks? What’s going to stop Bresee- who has already been named the PFF Freshman of the Week twice- from winning the Rookie of the Year Award? Both of these guys could potentially be All-ACC players by the end of 2020 and maybe even compete for spots on All-American teams before it’s all said and done.

They’re that good.

As we move forward, there is nothing for certain. But one thing has already been proven: Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee have surpassed the vast majority of the veterans currently sitting on their depth chart.