Bryan Bresee Named Top Impact Freshman

The “Big Noon Kickoff” crew at FOX have named freshman defensive lineman Bryan Bresee the nation's Top Impact Freshman.

One of the biggest things fans of Clemson football have been anticipating about the upcoming season was finally getting to see the school's star studded 2020 recruiting class in action on the field.

The Tigers’ most recent class was ranked third overall by 247 Sports and included more five-star players than any other school in the nation. It was a class littered with elite-level defensive linemen, highlighted by the nation's top overall prospect Bryan Bresee. 

After enrolling early, Bresee was able to participate in the abbreviated spring practice. By all accounts he was as good as advertised, despite being slowed early on by a knee injury. 

On Thursday, the “Big Noon Kickoff” crew at FOX named Bresee their Top Impact Freshman Player in the country. 

🙌🐅 @ClemsonFB fans have a lot to look forward to.

Our Big Noon Kickoff crew’s preseason impact freshman is @bryan_bresee! pic.twitter.com/P6mTqh52gp

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) July 16, 2020

Former Ohio State head coach and current FOX analyst Urban Meyer then went onto lay out all the characteristics required to be an impact player as a freshman. 

1. Physical maturity
2. Physical toughness
3. Mental toughness@CoachUrbanMeyer breaks down the characteristics every freshman has to have if they want to make an immediate impact ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jesHyuUHUl

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) July 16, 2020

FOX College Football analyst Joel Klatt notes that Bresee displays all of those traits and is one of those rare talents physically ready to play along the defensive line as a freshman. He also thinks he possesses the kind of versatility that will allow defensive coordinator Brent Venables to use him in a multitude of ways. 

"I think he checks off a lot of those boxes," Klatt said. "He’s certainly physically ready. He’s 6-foot-5, 290 pounds. In fact, he’s quick enough to maybe trim down, stay where he’s at and play on the edge. Or he can bulk up and be a 315-pound interior defensive lineman. And he’s got the quickness and hand quickness and toughness and strength to rush the quarterback from the interior. It’s that versatility that helps him."

The Tigers are certainly not strangers to having defensive linemen with that kind of versatility and athleticism. Former defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is a prime example, as he was used in a variety of ways, playing on offense, defense, and special teams. 

Back during the spring, head coach Dabo Swinney was asked if he could ever envision Bresee being used in a similar fashion. Swinney was quick to point out that the young freshman still had a lot of learning to do, but at the same time he is aware of all the options having a player like Bresee gives him and the rest of the coaching staff in the future. 

"So he's just kind of trying to learn right now," Swinney said back in the spring. "But in due time, at some point, he's definitely a guy I'll throw a pass to, hand it to, play special teams, play three-technique, play nose, could probably get by playing some end if we had to. So I think as he goes through his career and really grows, there's a lot you can really do with him."