Tag: Bryan Bresee

Why Todd Bates is confident Oklahoma can land top defensive line talent

Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator and defensive tackles coach Todd Bates is confident OU can land the nation’s top talent up front.

One of the most exciting parts about Todd Bates being added to Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables’ first staff is Bates’ penchant for landing top defensive line talent.

Bates earned Rivals’ Recruiter of the Year award for his work with Clemson’s 2020 signing class. Bates and Clemson signed the No. 1 overall player in the 2020 class according to 247Sports’ composite rankings in Damascus, Md., defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. Highly-touted defensive linemen DeMonte Capehart and Tre Williams were also a part of that 2020 signing class.

Before that, Bates signed Tyler Davis in the 2019 class. In Clemson’s 2021 signing class, Bates and the Tigers added Payton Page.

In his first meeting with the media since joining the OU staff, Bates touched on why he expects to continue to sign some of the nation’s top defensive line talent now at Oklahoma.

“Man, it’s because they’re attracted a lot of times [to] the scheme that you run. Does it highlight their skillset? Does it create a one-on-one matchup? And then you’ve got to go recruit guys that can win those. And they want to play in an aggressive scheme, attacking scheme, and that’s what we’ve been,” Bates said.

The track record speaks for itself, too. In the past 10 seasons as Clemson’s defensive coordinator, Venables’ defenses amassed 1,159 tackles for loss and 448 sacks to lead the nation in both categories. In the 2019 NFL Draft, three Clemson defensive linemen—Clelin Ferrell (No. 4), Christian Wilkins (No. 13) and Dexter Lawrence (No. 17)—were selected in the first round. Defensive end Austin Bryant was also taken by Detroit in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

“We’ve led the country in tackles for loss and sacks over the last decade. And that’s what guys are attracted to. They want to see [that]. They want to have a chance to produce, and they want to see you producing draft picks. And so you’ve got to be productive, and that’s what we’ve been under Coach Venables’ defense. We’ve been very productive, and we’ve been very intentional, and it hasn’t just happened by chance. You don’t do something 10 years in a row and that’s just by chance. So, recruits are drawn to that. They really [are],” Bates said.

Bates is also confident in the the fact that he, Venables and the rest of Oklahoma’s staff are concerned with their players’ lives and development beyond the football field.

“And they know that it’s not just that. The relationships that we’re able to build, these guys are part of our families and we really have those real relationships. That’s what I would say that really drives it over the edge. When you truly know inside and out your players and they truly know you, you’re going to get the best out of them. And that’s what we’ve done, man. We’ve been at our best because we’ve been able to get the best out of our players,” Bates said.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=none image=https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

[listicle id=53235]

‘Time for something new’: Clemson’s defensive line adopts different superhero identity

Four years later, Clemson’s defensive line is taking on different identities to fight offenses. In sticking with the superhero theme, K.J. Henry preferred to call it something else. “They showed us the ropes, so we know how to fight off crime,” …

Four years later, Clemson’s defensive line is taking on different identities to fight offenses. In sticking with the superhero theme, K.J. Henry preferred to call it something else.

“They showed us the ropes, so we know how to fight off crime,” Clemson’s veteran defensive end said. “We know how to do it the right way.”

They, of course, was a reference to the Power Rangers, the collective name adopted by college football’s most formidable defensive front. That group, which spearheaded the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense in helping Clemson capture its most recent national title in 2018, was headlined by future first-round draft picks Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins.

This year’s line, which again could be college football’s best in 2022, is calling itself The Avengers, a nod to Marvel Comics’ popular fictional team of superheroes. Henry admitted the idea came about after the group kept getting asked if it was going to take on an identity of its own.

“We felt like we had great excitement for the guys coming back,” Henry said. “A lot of hoorah for what we could do this year. Obviously we had a great example in the Power Rangers, but it’s time for something new. So that’s kind of what we came up with.”

The belief that this year’s defensive front could be just as formidable as what Clemson had a few years back is rooted in the fact that the Tigers are returning their entire two-deep up front on a defense that yielded the second-fewest points in the country. The Tigers also ranked in the top 15 nationally in sacks and tackles for loss.

And the group has its share of star power, too. 

Clemson could have multiple defensive linemen taken early in the 2023 NFL Draft with end Myles Murphy and tackle Bryan Bresee the strongest first-round candidates. Murphy, a former five-star signee, led the Tigers in sacks and tackles for loss last season while Bresee, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2020 recruiting cycle, was a freshman All-American before a torn ACL cut his sophomore season short after four games.

Henry and fellow end Xavier Thomas, former blue-chip recruits themselves, also have next-level aspirations as does Bresee’s running mate on the interior, Tyler Davis, a three-year starter heading into his senior season. And while senior end Justin Mascoll doesn’t get as much fanfare, the 6-foot-4, 260-pounder, who’s started 11 games in his career, could also hear his name called during next year’s draft.

“We’ve got four guys at (defensive) end that, this time next year, are going to be getting ready to head off to the NFL,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “To know we’ve got all four of those guys back for one more year is a blessing. We’ve got a chance to be really, really special in that defensive line when we get everybody back together.”

Bresee will be limited this spring as he continues to work his way back from two injuries – the 6-5, 300-pounder also had offseason shoulder surgery – as will backup tackle Tre Williams (shoulder), leaving most of the reps on the interior to Davis, Ruke Orhorhoro, Etinosa Reubuen, Payton Page and DeMonte Capehart for now. With Bresee injured, Orhorhoro started the final nine games this past season and finished with 42 tackles and eight tackles for loss. 

Clemson has nine defensive linemen back from last year’s team that have started at least one game, seven of those with multiple starts. The Tigers ranked seventh nationally against the run (96.3 yards allowed per game), ninth in sacks (3.23) and 15th in tackles for loss (7.1).

As for the specific Avengers identities each lineman will be adopting, Henry said he’s Captain America. He said he’d leave it to his teammates to reveal their characters, which seemed to happen via social media Wednesday night in response to Henry’s tweet asking the group to assemble.

Most of the linemen’s responses can be seen in the Twitter thread below:

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Swinney gives update on Bresee’s injuries

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gave the latest on Bryan Bresee while updating the injury statuses of various players as the Tigers kicked off spring practice Wednesday. Swinney told reporters that the redshirt sophomore defensive tackle “looks …

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gave the latest on Bryan Bresee while updating the injury statuses of various players as the Tigers kicked off spring practice Wednesday.

Swinney told reporters that the redshirt sophomore defensive tackle “looks great” and is progressing well in his knee and shoulder surgery rehabs, adding that Bresee’s shoulder surgery is the main thing limiting his participation in spring practice right now (he will be in yellow).

“Bryan Bresee looks great, and if wasn’t for his shoulder surgery, he’d probably be a pretty good participant during practice,” Swinney said. “So, he’s doing great with his knee. But obviously, we had to do two surgeries on him and had to do the shoulder later on. So, he’s out, but you’ll see that big bear rumbling around out there and getting better. He looks great.”

Bresee suffered an ACL injury in the second half of Clemson’s game at N.C. State on Sept. 25 and underwent surgery for the torn ACL on Oct. 8. He recently posted a video via Twitter showing him jogging and sprinting at Clemson’s indoor practice facility with a knee brace on his left leg.

Bresee was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2021 despite being limited to four games prior to the injury. He was credited with 15 tackles (3.0 for loss), 1.5 sacks and an interception over 154 snaps in those four games (all starts).

The former five-star prospect and former No. 1 recruit in the country burst onto the scene as a freshman All-American in 2020, becoming the second ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in Clemson history, joining Dexter Lawrence (2016). He enters 2022 credited with 48 tackles (9.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a safety over 16 games (14 starts).

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Bresee making progress in ACL recovery

Bryan Bresee is making progress in his recovery from the ACL injury he suffered in the second half of Clemson’s game at N.C. State back on Sept. 25. The Tigers’ star defensive tackle, who underwent surgery for his torn ACL on Oct. 8, looks to have …

Bryan Bresee is making progress in his recovery from the ACL injury he suffered in the second half of Clemson’s game at N.C. State back on Sept. 25.

The Tigers’ star defensive tackle, who underwent surgery for his torn ACL on Oct. 8, looks to have started a sprint program as he continues his rehab.

Bresee posted a video via Twitter on Tuesday showing him jogging and sprinting at Clemson’s indoor practice facility with a knee brace on his left leg.

It’s a significant step in the recovery process for Bresee five months into rehab and a welcome sight for Clemson fans, who will be happy to see him back on the field this coming season.

Bresee was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2021 despite being limited to four games prior to the injury. He was credited with 15 tackles (3.0 for loss), 1.5 sacks and an interception over 154 snaps in those four games (all starts).

The former five-star prospect and former No. 1 recruit in the country burst onto the scene as a freshman All-American in 2020, becoming the second ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in Clemson history, joining Dexter Lawrence (2016). He enters 2022 credited with 48 tackles (9.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a safety over 16 games (14 starts).

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Eason plans to take hands-on coaching approach a step further

It’s been nearly a decade since Nick Eason played a down of competitive football, but Clemson’s 41-year-old assistant coach claims he’s still got it. He doesn’t want the Tigers’ defensive linemen to take his word for it. Rather, Eason plans to show …

It’s been nearly a decade since Nick Eason played a down of competitive football, but Clemson’s 41-year-old assistant coach claims he’s still got it.

He doesn’t want the Tigers’ defensive linemen to take his word for it. Rather, Eason plans to show them.

To say Eason takes a hands-on approach to coaching is an understatement. Eason, a former all-ACC defensive lineman at Clemson who returned to his alma mater as defensive tackles coach last month, will take to the field in his new role for the first time next month when the Tigers begin spring practice.

And he may not always be wearing tennis shoes when he does.

“Every once in a while, I’ll wear cleats to practice and we’ll get after it together,” Eason said recently during Clemson’s national signing day radio show. “That’s one thing I take pride in. I’ll actually get out there and work with the players. And they love to see that.”

Eason had an opportunity to return to Clemson when former defensive tackles coach Todd Bates left to join Brent Venables’ staff at Oklahoma, bringing 17 years worth of NFL playing and coaching experience with him. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2003, Eason played for three teams over a 10-year playing career and most recently coached in the NFL in 2020 with the Cincinnati Bengals.

He got his first taste of college coaching last season at Auburn, where he also coached the defensive line. In regards to his coaching style, Eason said he thinks of himself as a teacher first.

“I’m going to be demanding, not demeaning,” Eason said.

At times, that will include being an active participant in practice despite the fact he hasn’t played since his final season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2012.

“I’m going to come out to practice with a lot of great energy,” Eason said. “I’m going to do some of the drills with them. Not all of them, but I’ve still got a little juice in the tank to show them how it’s done.

“We’ll have a lot of fun. We’re going to encourage each other, and we’re going to challenge each other across the board. My voice will be heard. You’ll know I’m out there.”

Eason is inheriting what should be one of college football’s top defensive lines next season. The Tigers are set to return their entire two-deep up front after ranking in the top 15 nationally in points allowed, yards allowed, sacks and tackles for loss.

On the interior, Eason will work with defensive tackles Tyler Davis and Bryan Bresee, who’s still working his way back from ACL surgery in the fall. Clemson is also returning Ruke Orhorhoro, Etinosa Reuben, Tre Williams, Payton Page and Demonte Capehart at the position.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

One area in which Clemson’s defensive line could top 2018 group

As far as defensive lines go, the group Clemson tormented opponents with during its most recent national championship run set the bar high. Affectionately known as the Power Rangers, the Tigers’ front four in 2018 was one of the best in college …

As far as defensive lines go, the group Clemson tormented opponents with during its most recent national championship run set the bar high.

Affectionately known as the Power Rangers, the Tigers’ front four in 2018 was one of the best in college football’s modern era. The group, headlined by Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins, led the charge for a defense that topped the country in points allowed (13.1 per game) and also ranked in the top 5 nationally in total defense, rush defense, tackles for loss and sacks. Ferrell, Lawrence and Wilkins were each selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft while the other starter up front, Thomas Austin, was a fourth-round pick that year.

Yet Clemson coach Dabo Swinney believes there’s one area in which his current defensive line could have that group beat.

“We’re going to have a little more depth than maybe we had in ‘18,” Swinney said. “I think the front-line guys, we’ve got some similarities. But this group has got a chance to have deeper, experienced depth.”

Swinney has good reason for that opinion.

Much like that 2018 season, Clemson’s No. 2 scoring defense this past season was spearheaded by arguably the top defensive line in the ACC. And that was with Tigers playing most of the season without star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (torn ACL).

Clemson finished seventh nationally in total yards allowed and eighth against the run. The Tigers also ranked ninth in sacks (3.2) and 15th in tackles for loss (7.1), both of which ranked in the top 4 in the ACC. And Clemson has virtually every significant contributor back up front.

As expected, sack leader Myles Murphy and Bresee, both sophomores, are returning for what could be their third and final seasons at Clemson. They’ll be joined by Tyler Davis, KJ Henry and Xavier Thomas, who may have been the biggest surprise with his decision to return for a sixth year.

Ruke Orhorhoro was more than serviceable filling in on the interior of the line alongside Davis. His 42 tackles were second-most among Clemson’s defensive linemen this past season, and he added eight tackles for loss. With a healthy Bresee set to slide back into the starting lineup this fall, that will move Orhorhoro back to being a backup.

With Henry, Orhohoro, Etinosa Reuben (or Tre Williams) and Justin Mascoll also back in the fold, Clemson is keeping its entire two-deep along the defensive line intact. Nine defensive linemen on the current roster have started at least one game at Clemson.

That’s not including sophomore defensive end Kevin Swint, who played in 10 games as a reserve this past season, or defensive tackles Payton Page and Demonte Capehart, who got their feet wet as freshmen. Freshmen defensive ends Cade Denhoff and Zaire Patterson are coming off redshirt seasons, and Clemson recently added another lineman to the crop in the 2022 recruiting cycle with the signing of Lanett (Alabama) four-star defensive tackle Caden Story.

“We’ve got a great group,” Swinney said. “This has got a chance to be as good as we’ve ever had in the defensive line if they will work and do what they need to do to play and perform at the level they’re capable of.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Elite recruit and Sooner legacy Lebbeus Overton is reclassifying to the 2022 class

The Sooners landed in the top five for newly reclassified 2022 recruit and OU legacy Lebbeus Overton.

National signing day never passes without surprises. In this case, the surprise comes the day after the first day of the regular signing period for prospective Division 1 football players.

Early Thursday morning, elite defensive line recruit Lebbeus Overton announced he would reclassify from the class of 2023 and join the 2022 class, thus making him officially able to sign and play in the fall.

The announcement creates a massive ripple in the college football world and the recruitment is already narrowed per an article by recruiting aficionado Steve Wiltfong. Five schools are in the running for Overton and he plans to use his official visits to those five: Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas A&M, Ohio State and Oregon.

Oklahoma’s ties to Overton run deep. Like DNA deep. Overton’s father was a former Oklahoma Sooner from 1991-1994 as an offensive lineman. He started four seasons, graduated and returned to OU for a master’s degree. He is the athletic director at Kennesaw State University.

Lebbeus doesn’t play along the offensive line, but he’s dominant in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball. Oh, and he’s a star on his high school basketball team. He was a significant contributor on a Milton High School team that won a state championship at the 7A level in Georgia and finished seventh nationally per MaxPreps in 2021.

When announcing why he was still considering Oklahoma, Milton said this: “Coach Venables going there you can tell they’re trying to switch the program to more a defensive one. He played a main role of being in my top five.” It’s hardly surprising considering how many recruits in recent weeks have echoed some variation of the same sentiments that Venables character and personality stands out above all else. 

Oklahoma offered Overton under the Riley regime and Calvin Thibodeaux led the recruiting efforts. While that was going on, the Clemson Tigers were very much in the mix, led by a few familiar names that wear Crimson and Cream now. Venables and defensive tackles coach Todd Bates were the leads of his recruitment when both were at Clemson, and you can imagine both will be using that relationship now that both are at Oklahoma. 

Bates and Venables are no strangers to landing elite defensive line talent. They tag-teamed the recruitment of defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, 2019’s No. 1 recruit who signed and plays with Clemson. Bates also helped land three other top 100 defensive tackles in the last few years while at Clemson.

The Sooners have a shot here, but it will not be easy. The field is full of some massive major destinations for an elite defender.

Ohio State is Ohio State, puts players in the league at an outstanding rate and is a national contender almost yearly. Texas A&M’s recruiting for the 2022 class is historic and is already filled with five-star defensive line talent thanks to quite possibly college football’s best recruiter, Elijah Robinson. Oregon has Dan Lanning, who was the defensive coordinator at Georgia before being hired by the Ducks as their head coach. The familiarity means something as Overton mentioned. The same can be said about Georgia, which is the hometown school, fresh off a national title, and loses quite a few interior defenders such as Jordan Davis and Travon Walker to the NFL.

A&M is the trending pick right now. With a decision not likely anytime in the next month, this is a major story to watch over the college football offseason.

The Sooners should empty the tank and go all-in for Overton. They had a five-star defensive lineman, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, who was another Sooners legacy. But Lincoln Riley’s exit and Calvin Thibodeaux heading to work at SMU after not being retained by Venables sealed the Sooners’ fate.

They have a shot at another legacy recruit and have nothing stopping them from going all in and applying the full-court press. Only Overton and Josh Conerly remain as Sooners’ targets for the class of 2022. Landing the two would be massive, but landing Overton seems more attainable due to a few factors the Sooners have in their favor. 

This is a situation we’ll monitor over the next few months or so. Stay tuned to Sooners Wire for more information as it comes out.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

[listicle id=50598]

Slew of Tigers ranked among top returning players in college football for 2022

The Clemson football team is set to return plenty of top-tier talent for the 2022 season. Pro Football Focus recently released its rankings of the top 10 returning players at every position for 2022, and a slew of Tigers made the lists. Rising …

The Clemson football team is set to return plenty of top-tier talent for the 2022 season.

Pro Football Focus recently released its rankings of the top 10 returning players at every position for 2022, and a slew of Tigers made the lists.

Rising redshirt senior offensive tackle Jordan McFadden appeared at No. 4 on PFF’s list of the top 10 returning offensive tackles in college football.

“McFadden has produced at a high level in the collegiate ranks,” PFF college football analyst Anthony Treash wrote. “The 2018 three-star recruit owns single-season PFF grades of 88.3, 83.5 and 87.4 over the last three years serving as a reserve, starting right tackle then starting left tackle. He’s played 1,963 snaps over the course of his career and has only been flagged for two penalties. McFadden took his pass protection to new heights this past season, as he allowed zero pressures in over half of his games played en route to a career-best 84.7 pass-blocking grade.”

Rising junior defensive tackle Bryan Bresee checked in at No. 2 on PFF’s list of the top 10 returning interior defensive linemen in college football.

“Bresee was a prime breakout candidate in his 2021 true sophomore season, but a torn ACL in his fourth game of the year derailed that,” Treash wrote. “The 2020 No. 1 overall recruit played 582 snaps his first two years on campus and earned a 70.8 PFF grade anchored by a 79.8 mark as a pass-rusher. And most of that production came in his true freshman campaign while nearly a quarter of his rushes were with only three men.

“The 6-foot-5, 300-pound interior defender is the total package from a tools perspective and should continue on the breakout path in 2022 with a clean bill of health.”

Rising junior defensive end Myles Murphy is ranked No. 9 on PFF’s list of the top 10 returning edge defenders in college football, while rising fifth-year senior defensive end Xavier Thomas is ranked right behind Murphy at No. 10.

“Murphy showed up to campus as the No. 7-ranked recruit overall in the 2020 class and never wavered with the upgrade in competition — he posted PFF grades of 85.2 and 79.2 as a true freshman and sophomore,” Treash wrote.

“The 6-foot-5, 275-pound edge defender has been at his best against the run. Since 2020, his PFF run-defense grade ranks first among Power Five edge defenders, just edging out Aidan Hutchinson and Will Anderson Jr.”

Added Treash of Thomas:

“A long battle with COVID-19 disrupted Thomas’ 2020 junior year, but he still managed to play 119 snaps in what was supposed to be a bounce-back season after a sophomore slump in 2019. The 2018 No. 3 overall recruit went from an 83.4 PFF grade as a freshman to a 69.8 mark the year after.

“Thomas got back on the right track this past season, earning a 76.7 pass-rush grade and 18.7% pass-rush win rate, 11th and fourth, respectively, among returning Power Five edge defenders.

“What’s most encouraging about his performance this past season is his true pass-rush grade was nearly 25 grading points higher than the last time we saw him consistently on the field in 2019.”

Rising junior linebacker Trenton Simpson, meanwhile, is ranked No. 3 among PFF’s top 10 returning off-ball linebackers in college football.

“Simpson is one of the best athletes at the position at 6-foot-3, 225-pounds,” Treash wrote. “His verified testing numbers in high school in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and pro agility were comparable to the 80th-90th percentile among NFL combine athletes. Former defensive coordinator Brent Venables took advantage of Simpson’s physical gifts in his blitz packages. The off-ball linebacker recorded an 88.3 pass-rush grade while racking up seven sacks, 13 hits and 11 hurries. Simpson was one of the 10 highest-graded players at the position in the Power Five from Week 4 on last season and is poised for an even bigger leap next fall.”

Last but not least, rising sophomore safety Andrew Mukuba came in at No. 5 on PFF’s list of the top 10 returning safeties in college football for the 2022 season.

“Mukuba looked far from a true freshman in 2021,” Treash wrote. “He is an all-around athlete who isn’t afraid of physicality, already one of the top tackling safeties in college football. He missed only three tackles on 48 attempts and finished with 75.0-plus grades both against the run and in coverage. Mukuba tallied a 77.5 PFF grade for the season.

“A mid-year lull led to him getting moved down to a reserve role, but he regained the starting job by the season’s end and his strong play returned.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

 

Two Tigers ranked among top 20 draft-eligible players in 2022

This week, CBS Sports released its list of the top 20 NFL draft-eligible college football players taking the field in 2022. It’s a list of the top 20 players who were not eligible to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft – due to the NFL’s rule that …

This week, CBS Sports released its list of the top 20 NFL draft-eligible college football players taking the field in 2022.

It’s a list of the top 20 players who were not eligible to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft — due to the NFL’s rule that requires players to be at least three years removed from high school before declaring — but will have the option of entering the 2023 draft.

Two Clemson standout defensive linemen made the list, with rising junior Myles Murphy checking in at No. 13 and fellow rising junior Bryan Bresee coming in right behind Murphy at No. 14.

A second-team All-ACC selection in 2021, Murphy collected first-team all-conference honors from the PFF and Phil Steele and second-team honors from the AP, while he was a fourth-team All-American according to Steele.

This season, the former five-star prospect was credited with 43 tackles, a team-high 14.0 tackles for loss, team-best 7.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups in 549 snaps over 13 games (10 starts).

“Brent Venables might have left Clemson, but a few of the monsters he helped create on the defensive line remain,” CBS Sports college football analyst Tom Fornelli wrote. “Murphy was a bright spot in a down year for the Tigers in 2021, finishing with seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick. He’s a disruptive force who will be a first-round pick next year.”

Bresee, meanwhile, was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2021 despite being limited to four games due to a season-ending torn ACL. He was credited with 15 tackles (3.0 for loss), 1.5 sacks and an interception over 154 snaps in four games (all starts).

The former No. 1 recruit in the country burst onto the scene as a Freshman All-American in 2020, posting 33 tackles (6.5 for loss), 4.0 sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a safety in 432 snaps over 12 games (10 starts). He became the second ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in Clemson history, joining Dexter Lawrence (2016).

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Goodwin still has high expectations for Clemson’s defense despite changes

Wesley Goodwin was pleased with the operation of his first time running Clemson’s defense, and why wouldn’t he be? The Tigers are less than a month removed from their 11th straight 10-win season, one capped by a performance Clemson has grown …

Wesley Goodwin was pleased with the operation of his first time running Clemson’s defense, and why wouldn’t he be?

The Tigers are less than a month removed from their 11th straight 10-win season, one capped by a performance Clemson has grown accustomed to on the defensive side of the ball. Clemson allowed just 13 points and 270 yards against one of the Big 12’s best offenses in its Cheez-It Bowl win over Iowa State. The defense also scored the decisive touchdown on Mario Goodrich’s pick-six in the second half and didn’t have any procedural penalties in Goodwin’s inaugural game as Clemson’s defensive coordinator.

“Just the whole operation was above my expectations,” Goodwin said. “No 12 men or 10 men on the field. Always worry about that type of stuff in first-time roles, but, overall, I thought our game operation was unbelievable.”

Still, not everything was perfect in Goodwin’s eyes.

“We gave up 13 points,” Goodwin said. “We were hoping for a shutout or whatever.”

It’s clear the expectations are still high for a unit that’s morphed into one of the nation’s best despite some not-so-insignificant turnover. It started with the architect of it all, Brent Venables, who split for his first head coaching job at Oklahoma before Clemson’s bowl game after a decade as Dabo Swinney’s defensive coordinator.

Despite getting a promotion to assistant head coach along with a raise at Clemson, fellow assistant Todd Bates eventually joined Venables at OU, where Clemson’s former defensive tackles coach and recruiting coordinator will be a co-coordinator. Venables also took Miguel Chavis, an off-field staffer at Clemson, with him to be his defensive ends coach.

There are also some key holes to fill at different levels of a defense that finished this season in the top 10 nationally in yards and points allowed. Veteran linebackers James Skalski and Baylon Spector are on the way out after finishing the season as the Tigers’ top two tacklers. Clemson is losing three starters in the secondary, including the ACC’s best corner tandem in Andrew Booth Jr. and Mario Goodrich.

Goodwin was promoted to replace Venables after spending a couple of different stints as one of Clemson’s top off-field defensive assistants. While Goodwin will add his own wrinkles here and there, the bowl game showed the Tigers aren’t going to deviate much from a defensive system that’s been highly successful in recent years.

As for Bates’ replacement,  Swinney brought back one of Clemson’s own in Nick Eason, a longtime player and coach in the NFL who had gotten back in the college game last season at Auburn. There’s also enough personnel returning on the field that it’s not inconceivable for Goodwin’s expectations to be met going forward.

Andrew Mukuba is in line to return at safety following a freshman All-America season, and Trenton Simpson may be the most versatile linebacker in the ACC after recording 78 tackles (third on the team), 12 tackles for loss, six sacks and three pass breakups as a sophomore. Of course, much of the optimism that Clemson can remain among the nation’s elite defensively lies up front.

Barring any transfers, the Tigers are set to return their entire two-deep along what was still one of the nation’s top defensive lines despite not having Bryan Bresee around for most of it. Clemson’s star defensive tackle was limited to four games after tearing his ACL, but he’ll be back for his junior season.

So will defensive end Myles Murphy, who led Clemson with seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Defensive tackle Tyler Davis is returning for his senior season, and K.J. Henry gave the unit a boost when he decided to return, too. Clemson found out its entire starting defensive line would remain intact, though, when Xavier Thomas recently announced he would use his COVID-19 year and run it back for a fifth season, which elicited a response from Goodwin on social media.

“Fired up to have you back!” Goodwin tweeted at Thomas. “Huge piece of the best DL in the country! Can’t wait for next season!”

Whether or not the Tigers can remain the same suffocating unit it turned into under Venables remains to be seen, but that is Goodwin’s expectation.