Bryan Bresee

Bryan Bresee (/brəˈziː/ brə-ZEE; born October 6, 2001) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Bryan Bresee

Bresee at the 2023 NFL Combine
No. 90 – New Orleans Saints
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	(2001-10-06) October 6, 2001 (age 23) Damascus, Maryland, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	305 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school:	Damascus
College:	Clemson (2020–2022)
NFL draft:	2023: 1st round, 29th pick
Career history
New Orleans Saints (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2020) First-team All-ACC (2020) Second-team All-ACC (2022) Third-team All-ACC (2021)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 49 Sacks: 12.0 Forced fumbles: 1 Pass deflections: 9 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Bresee played football at Urbana High School in Frederick, Maryland before transferring to Damascus High School in Damascus, Maryland. In both 2017 and 2019, he helped lead Damascus to state championship victories. Bresee was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and was ranked as the nation's top overall recruit by 247Sports.^[1] He committed to Clemson, turning down offers from Penn State, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State.^[2] He was named to the All-American Bowl following his senior season.^[3]

College career

Bresee with the Clemson Tigers in 2020

Bresee started every game for Clemson as a freshman in 2020, recording 33 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. In the CFP Semi Finals, Bresee performed 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the Tigers loss to Ohio State. At the conclusion of his freshman season, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Rookie of the Year, and an All-ACC first team member.^[4] In 2021, Bresee suffered an ACL tear, which cut his season short to only four games, but nevertheless earned All-ACC honors.^[5] In 2022, Bresee missed several games due to injury and family matters but once again earned All-ACC honors.^[5]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Bench press
6 ft 5+1⁄2 in (1.97 m)	298 lb (135 kg)	32+1⁄2 in (0.83 m)	10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m)	4.86 s	1.71 s	2.82 s	4.38 s	7.41 s	29.0 in (0.74 m)	22 reps
Sources:[6][7]

Bresee was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 29th pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.^[8] He recorded his first career half sack in the season opener, a 16–15 win over the Tennessee Titans.^[9] His first full sack came three weeks later in a 9–26 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.^[10] As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games in the 2023 season. He finished with 4.5 sacks, 24 total tackles (12 solo), and six passes defended.^[11]

Bresee spent the 2024 season operating mainly as a starter. In Week 14 against the New York Giants, Bresee blocked a field goal attempt by Graham Gano as regulation expired, giving the Saints a 14–11 victory.^[12]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Fumbles				Interceptions
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	FF	FR	Yds	TD	Int	Yds	TD	PD
2023	NO	17	0	24	12	12	4.5	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	6
2024	NO	17	11	25	17	8	7.5	7	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	3
Career		34	11	49	29	20	12.0	14	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	9

Personal life

Bresee's sister Ella died from brain cancer in 2022 at the age of 15.^[13]