Bryan Bresee – Page 31 – Syndication Server

ESPN analysts excited to watch these two Tigers in 2021

On ESPN’s College Football Live this week, a couple of ESPN analysts discussed some players that fans should be on the lookout for and need to know as we begin the 2021 college football season. Tom Luginbill mentioned Clemson freshman running back …

On ESPN’s College Football Live this week, a couple of ESPN analysts discussed some players that fans should be on the lookout for and need to know as we begin the 2021 college football season.

Tom Luginbill mentioned Clemson freshman running back Will Shipley as one of the players to watch.

“You’ve got to replace Travis Etienne at Clemson, right,” Luginbill said. “Look no further than the true freshman in Will Shipley. Maybe he’s not the starter initially. He’s going to be in the rotation, I think becomes a starter and I also think he could be a difference-maker as a punt and returner, and also every bit of the receiving target that Travis Etienne was during his career.”

Meanwhile, former Texas and NFL linebacker Sam Acho, now working with ESPN as a college football and NFL analyst, singled out Clemson sophomore defensive lineman Bryan Bresee as one of the players he is excited to watch.

“This dude is a baller,” Acho said. “He’s 6-5, he’s 290 and he’s a beast. Like, you should be scared of No. 11 for Clemson. Yes, he was a freshman last year. He’s a sophomore, he’s older, he’s more mature. He’s a beast.”

Bresee, the former No. 1 recruit in the country, burst onto the scene as a Freshman All-American in 2020 when he became the second ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in Clemson history, joining Dexter Lawrence (2016). The Damascus, Md., native enters 2021 credited with 33 tackles (6.5 for loss), 4.0 sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a safety over 12 games (10 starts).

Shipley, a former five-star recruit ranked as the nation’s No. 1 all-purpose back in the 2021 class, rushed for 4,173 yards and racked up 1,411 receiving yards to go with 80 total touchdowns in his three-year high school career at Weddington High School (Matthews, N.C.).

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ESPN ranks three Tigers among college football’s most important players

Three Clemson players are ranked among the most important college football players for the 2021 season by ESPN. In an ESPN+ article (subscription required), Bill Connelly ranked college football’s 25 most important players based on who has the …

Three Clemson players are ranked among the most important college football players for the 2021 season by ESPN.

In an ESPN+ article (subscription required), Bill Connelly ranked college football’s 25 most important players based on who has the potential to most dramatically impact the season and national title hunt.

Sophomore D.J. Uiagalelei is ranked as the No. 4 player and listed under the category of “new starting quarterbacks for potential contenders.”

“Uiagalelei shined in a two-week starting audition last season, completing 69% of his passes with no picks and, at 250-pounds, showing decent short-yardage rushing potential as well,” Connelly wrote. “But now the training wheels are off. He not only has to look the part of a CFP quarterback, he has to do so (a) without security blanket Travis Etienne and (b) from the start of the season: The Tigers’ toughest regular season game is against Georgia in Charlotte in Week 1.”

Meanwhile, sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is ranked No. 10 on ESPN’s list as one of the “key defenders with a possible leap in them,” and redshirt junior wide receiver Justyn Ross is ranked No. 14 and listed among the players ESPN tabs as “key supporting cast members.”

Senior running back Lyn-J Dixon is also listed under the same category as Ross as one of the “other candidates,” and sophomore defensive end Myles Murphy is listed among the other candidates in Bresee’s category.

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ESPN tabs two Tigers as preseason All-Americans

ESPN on Thursday released its 2021 college football preseason All-America team. Wide receiver Justyn Ross and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee were named preseason All-Americans by ESPN. Ross enters 2021 having recorded 112 receptions for 1,865 yards …

ESPN on Thursday released its 2021 college football preseason All-America team.

Wide receiver Justyn Ross and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee were named preseason All-Americans by ESPN.

Ross enters 2021 having recorded 112 receptions for 1,865 yards with 17 touchdowns over 29 career games (14 starts) from 2018-19 before missing all of 2020 following offseason spinal surgery.

“Selecting Ross as one of the two receivers may be a bit of a gamble given his spine condition/surgery that caused him to miss last season,” ESPN senior writer Chris Low wrote. “But he’s been cleared medically to play in 2021, and if he is indeed healthy, there’s not a tougher matchup in college football than the 6-4, 205-pound Ross. He caught 17 touchdown passes and averaged 16.7 yards per catch in his first two seasons and is a prime target in the red zone.”

“Clemson just keeps churning out elite defensive linemen, and the 6-5, 300-pound Bresee has only scratched the surface of how good he can be,” Low wrote. “As a true freshman, he tied for the team lead with 11 quarterback pressures and also had four sacks, validating his rating as ESPN’s No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in the 2020 class. With a ton of talent around him, Bresee will be a force in the middle of the Tigers’ defensive line.”

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Three Tigers named to national outlet’s preseason All-America team

CBS Sports this week released its 2021 preseason All-America team. Three Clemson players made the list in wide receiver Justyn Ross, defensive lineman Bryan Bresee and linebacker James Skalski. Ross was named to the first team offense, while Bresee …

CBS Sports this week released its 2021 preseason All-America team.

Three Clemson players made the list in wide receiver Justyn Ross, defensive lineman Bryan Bresee and linebacker James Skalski.

Ross was named to the first team offense, while Bresee was honored as a first team defense selection. Skalski was named to the second team defense.

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Defensive line meets expectations in Clemson’s first scrimmage

As Myles Murphy assessed how Clemson’s defensive line performed Saturday, the Tigers’ defensive end rattled off a long list of players that impressed him. Once he was done, nearly every first- and second-teamer had been mentioned. “Everybody stood …

“Everybody stood out today,” said Murphy, a freshman All-American a season ago. “Got in the backfield, kind of just retraced the entire offensive line into the backfield and got pressure on the quarterback.”

It seemed fitting given just how interchangeable the Tigers are becoming at one of the deepest and most talented positions on their roster.

Clemson returns every starter along the defensive line, seven linemen in all who have started at least one game and five ends that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he considers starters, so it’s no secret the Tigers expect to have one of the nation’s most formidable defensive fronts this fall.

The group got its first live reps over the weekend during the Tigers’ first scrimmage of fall camp, one in which the defense got the better of the offense inside Clemson’s indoor practice facility. Regardless of which personnel groupings it had on the field, the line set the tone for the defense’s performance as expected, Swinney said.

“I was super, super impressed with those guys (Saturday),” Swinney said. “What I was hoping I would see is no dropoff, and it didn’t matter really how I ran the scrimmage as far as the groups, I didn’t see any dropoff. I thought those guys really all played well.

“We created some pressure. Some (tackles for loss). Some sacks. I thought both groups played to the standard that we talked about. That’s fun to see defensively.”

With Xavier Thomas and Justin Foster back in the fold — both seniors opted to return to Clemson for another season — the Tigers can go two- and sometimes three-deep with experience at defensive end and have rotated accordingly throughout camp. Thomas, Foster, Murphy, Justin Mascoll and K.J. Henry have bounced back and forth between the ones and twos and continued to do so in the scrimmage.

Senior Tyler Davis and sophomore Bryan Bresee, another freshman All-American, are entrenched as the top interior linemen. Swinney also mentioned fellow defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro for his performance in the scrimmage, noting Orhoro, who’s spent most of camp getting second-team reps, is at a point in his development where “he shows up” every time he’s on the field.

Clemson seems to be building more depth on the inside even with some defensive tackles unavailable for the time being. Redshirt freshman DeMonte Capehart and sophomore Etinosa Reuben were held out of the scrimmage with undisclosed injuries, but Tre Williams and Darnell Jeffries made their presence felt in the scrimmage while true freshman Payton Page also got some reps.

Orhorhoro and Williams are both healthy again after injuries derailed their seasons early a year ago. Swinney referred to Williams’ performance Saturday as “awesome.”

“It was good to see Tre get in there and make some plays,” Swinney said. “Darnell had a nice play.”

Clemson will need to solidify more of that depth on the interior, but the weekend scrimmage went a long way in confirming the Tigers don’t have too many concerns when it comes to their defensive line.

“We’ve got a lot of talented guys there,” Swinney said, “and I like the chemistry I’m seeing from that group.”

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Mascoll poised for breakout year

After Day 3 of fall camp on Monday at the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football complex defensive tackle Bryan Bresee noted that in his view Justin Mascoll was ready for a breakout year this season. “I’m going to go with Justin Mascoll he …

“I’m going to go with Justin Mascoll he was really good all spring and even now and this he’s worked hard in the weight room and running this offseason so I think he’ll have a breakout year,” Bresee said.

“He was really good last year but just brought things to a different level this year. Everything leveled up in his game and off the field stuff just looks really good to me.”

Mascoll played in all 12 games last season and started in nine at defensive end. The junior defensive tackle recorded 29 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery in 2020.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables also noticed the next level play of Mascoll through the first four days of camp and is excited to see what he bring to the field in full pads later this week.

“The thing about Justin is that he always plays so hard, he’s physical and he loves to compete,” Venables said after Tuesday’s practice. “Justin has done a lot of nice things and I expect a good year from him. He loves to come to practice so he brings the best out of other guys.”

Venables noted the qualities that make Mascoll a great competitor on the practice field.

“Justin has a great work ethic, loves to practice, loves to compete,” Venables said. “He’s a great example of what development looks like and he’s put in the work and got length and size, toughness, effort, he’s explosive, a very physical player and he’s a humble guy. He’s always ready for his opportunity.”

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Swinney, Bresee have high expectations for D-Line

Following Monday’s practice at the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football Complex, Dabo Swinney said he would be disappointed if the depth of Clemson’s defensive line fails to benefit the team this season. “I’ll be disappointed if it’s not …

“I’ll be disappointed if it’s not because those guys have been young the last couple of years,” Swinney said. “Last year we could have been more of a veteran group, but Foster was out and (Xavier Thomas) was in and out and not the best version of himself. Myles (Murphy) was a true freshman.”

Lack of depth proved a hindrance for the Tigers last season, particularly in the season finale. But early in camp, the defensive line looks to be a seasoned unit rich with talent.

Clemson has five experienced defensive ends returning in Thomas, Justin Foster, K.J. Henry, Justin Mascoll and Murphy. On the interior line, it returns highly touted tackles in Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis along with Tré Willimas, Ruke Ohorhoro and Darnell Jeffries behind them.

“But this group right here and where they are right now in every aspect, I’ll be very disappointed if they don’t play like I know they can,” Swinney said of the unit. “They’ve got the experience, they’re in great shape, you’ve got the kind of depth that you want, and they understand the run scheme and the pass scheme.”

Bresee noted that at times last season depth was an issue, not because the defensive line was worn down but because it was hard to stay fresh throughout the game. But this camp has a completely different feel for the sophomore tackle compared to his first fall camp.

“From last year definitely. It was tough at times last year being three or four deep, it can be tough,” Bresee said. “So definitely just seeing it and everybody is getting it now and starting to understand everything and seeing guys come along is really cool to see.”

He’s excited to get on the field and showcase what he thinks possesses the potential to cement itself as the best d-line in the nation.

“It can be huge, and it can be everything. Just keeping guys fresh and ready to go on the field is going to be a huge advantage for us,” he said.

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Notebook: Day 1 observations of Clemson’s defense

Clemson opened fall camp on Friday in high spirits in preparation for the 2021 season. The media was allowed to observe the entirety of the opening practice at the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football Complex. Clemson practiced with …

Clemson opened fall camp on Friday in high spirits in preparation for the 2021 season.

The media was allowed to observe the entirety of the opening practice at the practice fields behind the Allen Reeves Football Complex. Clemson practiced with helmets only and without contact for almost three hours.

Freshman Barrett Carter burst onto the scene with an impressive first practice that included a one-handed interception.

“Solid. He picks it up well. He is a savvy kid. As you saw he made a one-hand snag today. Just going out here and having fun,” Baylon Spector said after practice. “Great head on him, smart. If he messes up, he is okay. He is not going to cave down. He has a good head on him. He is really smart and is a talented player.”

Here are some more notes from the first practice as the Tigers’ defense drilled with their position groups, as a unit and in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11.

Defensive line

Clemson’s defensive line is beyond deep and it showed. During team drills the unit ran out several different combinations and looks for a starting four.
In good-on-good Xavier Thomas held the first spot at defensive end with Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis on the inside and Justin Mascoll sharing time with K.J. Henry on the other end. Myles Murphy also got some first team reps at defensive end in various drills.
Thomas got a little banged up during a drill at the beginning of practice but returned to practice after a few minutes and seemed perfectly fine.
Payton Page was in a green jersey during practice and is a big dude. Looked capable in his first practice with the Tigers. Etinosa Reuben was also in a green jersey which means they cannot participate in contact drill.
Tre Williams looked impressive in individual drills he stood out for his intensity. His work in the offseason on his body showed, his technique was sound, and he was explosive at the snap.
Also, Bresee is still good at football.

Linebackers

Sixth-year James Skalski is the clear leader of the linebacker room and took the first rep in every situation including individual drills. He served as defensive coordinator Brent Venables demonstration dummy and also helped out the younger linebackers.
The first linebackers out in team drills were Skalski, Spector and Trenton Simpson. Skalski played middle linebacker and Spector held down the weak side.
Then obviously Barrett Carter impressed with his physical makeup and athleticism. He intercepted Hunter Helms in team drills with a spectacular one handed catch and shows a lot of promise with his first practice under his belt.

Secondary

Andrew Booth returns with the same athleticism and play making ability. He looked impressive in his first practice of the fall, particularly in defending the deep ball. It also seemed he is owning more of a leadership role among the other cornerbacks.
Nate Wiggins showed potential particularly in staying coachable and attentive in his first college football practice. The freshman corner took some time to empty his system during individual drills. He also took a chewing from defensive coordinator Brent Venables at one point during practice.
Clemson is six deep at corner with Booth and Malcom Greene taking the first team reps at the moment and both looked good at times. Mario Goodrich, Sheridan Jones, Wiggins and Fred Davis.
At safety Nolan Turner and Lannden Zanders took most of the first team reps. Tyler Venables and Andrew Mukuba played a lot in second team oppportunities. Joseph Charleston also played a lot in team drills at the position.
Greene had a great pass breakup of Joseph Ngata seven on seven.
Sheridan Jones jumped and made a one handed deflection to stop a completion in team drills.
Mukuba also got some reps at corner despite being listed at safety on the roster.

Team observations

Obviously without pads on there was a big emphasis on tracking rather than hitting in team drills. Head coach Dabo Swinney made sure to reemphasize that several times with the threat of being kicked off the field for making contact in non-contact drills.
The defense recorded a pair of coverage sacks against the first team offense in seven-on-seven work and matched up relatively well without contact.
Jimmy Greenbeans a.k.a. Venables got to show off his arm in defensive drills.

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Two Tigers named to Walter Camp Watch List

The Walter Camp Football Foundation announced today that Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and wide receiver Justyn Ross have been named as two of 35 players to watch for the 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. The Walter Camp Football …

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of 35 “players to watch” for its 2021 Player of the Year award, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.

There are 25 offensive players (13 quarterbacks, eight running backs and four receivers/tight ends) on the preseason watch list along with 10 from the defensive side of the ball. In all, 29 schools and 11 conferences (including independents) are represented on the list with Iowa State having four players on the list. Defending national champion Alabama has two players on the watch list, along with Notre Dame and Clemson.

“We are proud to continue the great work of Walter Camp and recognize the best college football players in the nation,” Foundation president Mario Coppola said. “This watch list is a great start to what is shaping up to be another exciting year of college football.”

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in mid-November. The 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 130 NCAA Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced live on ESPN on Thursday, December 9. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation’s 55th annual national awards banquet on January 15, 2022 in New Haven, Conn.

Please note: Appearing on the preseason Watch List is not a requirement for a player to win the Walter Camp award or be named to the All-America team.

2021 Walter Camp Player of Year Preseason Players to Watch

Will Anderson, LB, Alabama
Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Matt Corrall, QB, Ole Miss
Dustin Crum, QB, Kent State
Jayden Daniels, QB, Arizona State
JT Daniels, QB, Georgia
Dillon Gabriel, QB, UCF
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Cade Hall, DE, San Jose State
Kyle Hamilton, DB, Notre Dame
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
Brandon Joseph, DB, Northwestern
D’Eriq King, QB, Miami
Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina
John Metchie, WR, Alabama
Sincere McCormick, RB, UTSA
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Michael Peniz, QB, Indiana
Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Bijuan Robinson, RB, Texas
Mike Rose, LB, Iowa State
Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
Kedon Slovis, QB, USC
Derek Stingley, DB, LSU
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
Demetrius Taylor, DE, Appalachian State
Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.

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8 Tigers named to Preseason All-ACC Football Team

Clemson’s football team had eight Tigers named to the Preseason All-ACC Football team, which the conference announced Tuesday morning. In all, Clemson had more players named to the media’s All-ACC Preseason Team than any other school in the …

Clemson’s football team had eight Tigers named to the Preseason All-ACC Football team, which the conference announced Tuesday morning.

In all, Clemson had more players named to the media’s All-ACC Preseason Team than any other school in the conference. Preseason honors were determined by a vote of 147 media members, including several who were credentialed for last week’s ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C.

Six of Clemson’s preseason All-ACC selections came on the defensive side. The Tigers led the conference in total defense last season (326.8 total yards per game) and were second in scoring defense (20.2 points per contest).

Wide receiver Justyn Ross and offensive tackle Jordan McFadden were named to the offense by the media that cover the ACC, while defensive tackles Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis, along with defensive end Myles Murphy, linebacker James Skalski, safety Nolan Turner and cornerback Andrew Booth were named to the defensive team.

Bresee was the only defensive player on the All-ACC team to receive votes for ACC Player of the Year. He led all players in the balloting with 120 votes and record eight votes for Player of the Year. His eight votes were two more than quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who received six votes.

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell was tabbed as the media’s pick to win Player of the Year honors. Howell received 118 votes at the quarterback position to lead all offensive players in the Preseason All-ACC Team balloting. He is joined in the preseason All-ACC backfield by running backs Zonovan Knight of NC State and Mataeo Durant of Duke.

Clemson’s Ross, Boston College’s Zay Flowers and Wake Forest’s Jaquarii Roberson form a potent wideout trio, and Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell completes the receiving corps. Georgia Tech’s Jahmyr Gibbs was chosen as the all-purpose back.

Ross caught 112 passes for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first two college seasons before missing last season due to injury. Flowers’ nine touchdown catches led all ACC receivers in 2020, and Roberson’s 102.9 receiving yards per game were a league high.

Boston College boasts a pair of preseason All-ACC offensive linemen in center Alec Lindstrom and guard Zion Johnson. They are joined by NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu, Clemson’s McFadden and North Carolina guard Joshua Ezeudu.

Ross (110 votes) and Flowers (101) joined Howell among the leading vote-getters on the offensive unit.

NC State’s Payton Wilson, who joined Bresee on the 2020 All-ACC team, joins Skalski and Virginia’s Nick Jackson on the preseason All-ACC linebacking corps. Virginia Tech defensive end Amare’ Barno, North Carolina cornerback Tony Grimes and Miami safety Bubba Bolden complete the first-team defense.

Clemson’s Murphy (108 votes) and Miami’s Bolden (100) joined Bresee among defensive players hitting the century mark in the balloting, and NC State’s Wilson received 99 votes.

Wake Forest veteran Nick Sciba (third-most accurate in ACC history with a career field-goal conversion rate of .891) received the nod as placekicker. Preseason All-ACC punter Lou Hedley returns to Miami after ranking second among FBS players with an average of 47.2 yards per kick in 2020. Gibbs was a dual choice at specialist after leading Georgia Tech in all-purpose yards (968) and scoring (seven TDs) in 2020 despite missing three games due to injury.

2021 Preseason All-ACC Football Team

(Total votes in parenthesis)

Offense

QB Sam Howell, North Carolina (118)

RB Zonovan Knight, NC State (96)

RB Mataeo Durant, Duke (49)

WR Justyn Ross, Clemson (110)

WR Zay Flowers, Boston College (101)

WR Jaquarii Roberson, Wake Forest (80)

TE James Mitchell, Virginia Tech (77)

AP Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech (56)

OT Ikem Ekwonu, NC State (83)

OT Jordan McFadden, Clemson (53)

OG Zion Johnson, Boston College (82)

OG Joshua Ezeudu, North Carolina (56)

C Alec Lindstrom, Boston College (77)

Defense

DE Myles Murphy, Clemson (108)

DE Amare’ Barno, Virginia Tech (63)

DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson (120)

DT Tyler Davis, Clemson (53)

LB Payton Wilson, NC State (99)

LB James Skalski, Clemson (95)

LB Nick Jackson, Virginia (37)

CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson (86)

CB Tony Grimes, North Carolina (55)

S Bubba Bolden, Miami (100)

S Nolan Turner, Clemson (85)

Special Teams

PK Nick Sciba, Wake Forest (69)

P Lou Hedley, Miami (84)

SP Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech (60)

Preseason Player of the Year

Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina, 114
D’Eriq King, QB, Miami, 11
Bryan Bresee, DE, Clemson, 8
D.J. Uiagalelei, QB, Clemson, 6
Phil Jurkovec, QB, Boston College, 3
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College, 2
Jahmyr Gibbs, AP, Georgia Tech, 2

–ACC Communications contributed to this story

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