Bryan Bresee 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

• Left Damascus High School in Maryland as the No. 1 overall recruit in the country in 2020

• High school career featured 35 sacks and 80 tackles for loss. He also averaged a double-double as a prep basketball player as a junior
• Suffered torn ACL after four games of 2021 season, credited with a redshirt season

System: 

• Scheme tendencies: Even front defense with a blend of games and gap exchanges up front. 
• 2022 projected role: Starting defensive tackle

Pros: The physical skill set is just so obvious here and it’s very impressive. Watching Bryan Bresee on some of the shallow twists, which allow him to open his strides as he gets into a gap, offers a clear look at why he’s been so highly regarded as a prep recruit. Despite missing the final nine games of 2021, we still got to see him play against Georgia in the season opener and we also got a look at him in the 2021 CFB Playoff Semifinal versus Ohio State—he’s had quality opponents and his athleticism still popped in both occurrences. I like him best as a penetration 3-technique. When he’s charged with quickly getting into the backfield, you can see him at his best. He’s twitchy and can rip through lateral contact in order to uncover and then flash to the football with suddenness. Bresee has showcased the needed versatility play up and down the line at Clemson and I think in the right scheme (penetration based) he could offer similar versatility in the front at the NFL level—particularly with Clemson’s tendency to reduce him down as a head-up rusher on the center to try to dictate 5-0 protection calls from the opposition. Bresee is also accustomed to drawing a crowd and his movement skills and motor allow him to routinely play through that added attention and ensure he’s providing a sufficient level of flow to the football in order to allow him to help clean up extended plays. 

Cons: Aside from some needed growth and development in Bryan Bresee’s fundamentals, he’s going to need to showcase himself as fully recovered from the ACL injury that ended his true sophomore season after just four games. The Tigers’ defense certainly missed Bresee last season and his potential return to full health will go a long way to helping the unit return to championship form. From an execution standpoint, Bresee could stand to be more consistent with his pad level, ensuring he is playing with leverage in the front. Too many times you caught him bubbled off the LOS when being asked to stack blockers and control gaps. I think he’s much, much better as a penetration defender and unless there’s improvement here, I’m not sure he’ll be a universal prospect for all 32 teams and instead could be a more scheme-specific player long-term. Bresee’s ability against the run shines best when he’s flowing laterally along the LOS to stay in the hip pocket of blockers in zone looks—if you decide to run right at him with double teams, I think you can test him best based on his most recent appearances. As a pass rusher, Bresee commands a lot of attention. Added focus on ways to successfully negotiate multiple sets of hands in one rush is going to allow his production to make the needed leap for him to live up to his physical potential.

Bryan Bresee NFL Draft Scouting Report by Kyle Crabbs