Is Clemson’s Bryan Bresee Disruptive Enough?

That is the big question surrounding Bryan Bresee.

Half the time he looks like a first-round pick, and the other half the time he looks like an undraftable free agent.

Is there some underachieving going on?

No question.

Does he have elite ability?

No question.

Which Bresee shows up on any given play is the most challenging part of his evaluation.

If I was a general manager, I would never take him top-10, but if I was sitting at the very bottom of the first-round, I would take a chance on him.

Never bet against a man with a purpose

Bresee’s 15-year old sister Ella lost her battle with brain cancer in September, and you can tell how he has responded by taking one look at his shirt.

He has worn long strips of tape down both arms that read, “ELLA STRONG.”

Back the day it happened, Bresee posted on Instagram, “I know for a fact heaven has gained a beautiful angel today. Love you forever and always Ella bear.”

There are two choices when tragedy strikes, and Bresee has chosen to take his deep emotional pain and channel it into his purpose going forward.

There are times during games he practically takes over from the inside, and it is during those times, I can’t help but think he’s doing so in her memory.

From losing my first-born daughter at age two to Neuroblastoma cancer back on Christmas Day 2001, I know my Bailey Hope gave me what I needed to resolutely go on.

When Bresee blows through a guard or takes a center for a ride, I can feel it in my soul.

Bresee is like an avalanche

While he doesn’t have quick twitch explosiveness initially at the point of attack due to his rigidity, he does have cat-quickness and fast hands to shoot gaps and disrupt the pocket.

He also runs stunts well. At first, it doesn’t look like much, but his close into the pocket builds methodically and quickly moving toward the quarterback.

It is actually quite remarkable looking once he has the passer in his crosshairs.

On game film, I saw him chasing down the quarterback outside the pocket by the sideline with reckless abandon. He fell short, but it was still impressive looking.

Must improve against the run

As much as I love his backstory, watching Bresee against the run made me cringe.

He’s going to need a coaching overhaul in terms of his techniques in this area.

There is no excuse for a man this big and strong to be an afterthought against the run.

Yes, an NFL defense needs a prospect like Bresee who can blow up the pocket, but a first-round three-down defensive tackle must come up bigger against the run.

It’s in him – – somebody just needs to pull it out.

#11 Bryan Bresee 6-foot-5, 305 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Grade: First-Round – Fall 2022 Report

Projected by 95.3% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 8, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Syracuse, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech (click to watch games viewed to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 13 tackles (6 solo, 7 assists), 1.5 sacks, 1 INT. in four games played before suffering a torn ACL in late September, 2021

Note: In 2020, had a pass rush grade of 81.2 (pff.com) with 26 pressures and four sacks

NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Stout quick inconsistent interior defensive lineman with thick upper and long arms who has the ability to be disruptive. Is best when using a quick swim or rip move to blow through a gap with methodical building speed. Has good close, but it takes effort to adjust. Tends to stall out way too easily against solo blocks. Draws his fair share of double teams and gets stalemated. Capable of a lot more than he shows. When he’s on, he’s on. Below average job of holding his ground and shedding against the run. Showed he can fight through a double and make a devastating tackle against Georgia Tech. Held ground in short-yardage situations. Questionable run instincts. Intriguing prospect.

What to watch for during the 2022 college football season:

1. Consistency
2. Pass rush and run stats?
3. How does he look vs. run?
4. Does he stay healthy?

The jury is still out on Bresee, don’t send in the first-round card quite yet. I will be circling back to catch more game film on him before setting my final board.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.