Bryan Bresee 'happy' to be healthy at 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee is healthy and showed out at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. The projected first-round pick battled illnesses throughout the season but proved he was good to go.

There were questions if Bresee could hold up during the evaluation. He put those to rest with a 4.93-second 40-yard dash, which ranked in the top five among defensive tackles.

Overall, it was a good day for the former Clemson Tiger.

“Yeah, that was the main goal today. Come out here and show people what a healthy Bryan Bresee looks like,” Bresee said to NFL Network’s Stacy Dales. “A lot of illnesses this year, so I was just happy I was able to come out here and compete … I had a kidney infection early on, upper respiratory infections, strep throat later in the season. Sick this year.

“Just, you know, real sick … Obviously it was a tough year but you know, I’m healthy now. I wanted everyone to see that.”

Bresee went into the week at the NFL Combine with his accolades preceding him. 

He was named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 in his first season, while also earning first-team All-ACC recognition by the Associated Press. He was limited in 2020 due to injury but managed to carve out a spot as a second-team All-ACC selection in 2022 as a junior.

Bresee finished his college career with 51 total tackles, 28 solo tackles, 15 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four pass deflections and one forced fumble.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Bresee was a five-star recruit out of Damascus (M.D.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Mock drafts are all over the place as far as where Bresee will be selected.

Former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah has Bresee No. 24 overall to the Jaguars in his latest mock draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper doesn’t have Bresee going in the first round.

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“I have talked to teams that really like him, and I have talked to teams that aren’t nearly as high and don’t see him as a first round player,” Jeremiah said. “It will be interesting to see when it’s all said and done.”