Clemson Football: Bresee a force inside, highly prized NFL prospect

From the very first snap Monday night the Clemson football defense dominated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets with a dazzling array of athletic defensive players on all three levels.

K.J. Henry lived in the backfield, linebacker Barrett Carter and Trenton Simpson led the team in tackles with 8 apiece and Andrew Mukuba was a ball hawk on the back end.

Sometimes the guys up front get lost in the displays of athleticism, but defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is one you can’t miss – he stands out whether you’re watching live on replay or scouting film.

Bresee’s numbers from Monday show 4 tackles on the night, a half sack, and 2 tackles for loss.  It’s a position that typically doesn’t rack up a lot of stats as these men destroy blockers so the linebackers can make the tackles.

But Bresee stands out and that’s saying something on a defensive line with the talent level that Clemson possesses.

At the next level Bresee likely projects as a three technique, which is a premium position on an NFL defense (think Aaron Donald).  He’s powerful and athletic enough (played basketball in high school) to move around blockers as we saw Monday night.

Clemson football defensive tackle Bryan Bresee was dominant in Monday night’s victory and is the 2nd ranked NFL defensive tackle prospect

Bresee also uses his hands well and that is something that will serve him well at the next level, if he continues to work and develop that skill.

Durability is a question with Bresee coming of an ACL injury that kept him out of all but four games last season, but he’s healthy now and his motor in unquestioned.

One analyst has him as the 7th best overall prospect in the 2023 draft and second defensive lineman behind Jalen Carter of Georgia.

Perhaps one of the best compliments I can give the Clemson defense is the talent the Tigers have assembled up front has made watching line play fun and I find myself drawn to the interior play on that side of the ball instead of following the ball and Bresee is typically in the middle of beating an offensive lineman when I do.