Brent Venables provides update on Bryan Bresee, examines DL future

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and the Tigers lost star defensive lineman Bryan Bresee to an ACL tear this weekend. On Monday, the Clemson defense began preparing for Boston College without the former five-star prospect.

Bresee has been ruled out for the rest of the 2021 season and is just beginning to come to terms with his injury, according to Venables.

“Under the circumstances, he’s doing as well as you could expect,” Venables said. “Obviously, incredibly disappointed. He’s put a lot into this season. So to be injured, to go through that whole process, it probably hadn’t hit him a whole lot yet, just as you would expect.

“He’s a really, really good player. But again, we’ve got other guys who gotta step up and gotta get better this year.”

Through four games, Bresee had amassed 13 tackles (six solo) and 1.5 sacks, also adding an interception in Week 3 against Georgia Tech.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive tackle finished his freshman year in 2020 with 33 tackles (6.5 tackles for loss), four sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a safety. He earned 2020 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and a 2020 first-team All-ACC selection.

Tigers prepare for Bresee-less future

The 2-2 Clemson Tigers could turn to a cast of players to try and replace Bryan Bresee’s production. Clemson will lean on Tré Williams and Payton Page heavily, and Ruke Orhorhoro will start Saturday against Boston College.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Venables said. “You saw, I don’t know how many plays it was, over a quarter of getting those guys in there and mixing it up.

“Fortunately, we’ve been able to (rotate guys) in the early part of this year. It’s a great opportunity for guys like Payton Page, ET (Etinosa Reuben) and Darnell (Jefferies), as well as Ruke and Tré.

Six-foot-2, 300-pound redshirt freshman Tré Williams has pleased Brent Venables so far.

“We’ve seen the same stuff as before, he’s a talented young guy,” Venables said. “He’s got a live body and he’s got a good get-off. He’s got a good future in front of him. He works hard, competes, and he’s getting better every day.”

Will Shipley out for Clemson

Running back Will Shipley also sustained an injury on Saturday versus N.C. State. However, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney clarified that Shipley’s leg injury does not require any form of procedure or surgery. He is likely to return in the 2021 season.

Shipley, a true freshman from Weddington, North Carolina, had amassed 211 rushing yards on 44 rushing attempts — good for a 4.8-yard average — coupled with five rushing touchdowns this season. In the receiving game, he has four receptions for 16 yards.

On Saturday, Shipley had 11 rushing attempts for 36 yards and a touchdown. He went straight to the locker room with his leg injury.

The former five-star could return in a few weeks.

On3’s Simon Gibbs contributed to this report.