The New Orleans Saints have made a splash in the 2023 NFL draft by selecting Bryan Bresee, a defensive tackle from Clemson University. Bresee, who carries the memory of his late sister Ella with him, was drafted in the first round and is already receiving high praise from experts and coaches alike (Greenville Online).
According to an article from NOLA.com, here are some things fans should know about Bresee: he’s 6’5″ and 300 pounds, he was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, and he was a consensus All-American in 2021. Mel Kiper, a draft analyst for ESPN, had an instant reaction to Bresee’s selection, saying he’s a “dominant player” who brings a lot of value to the Saints (Saints Wire).
Bresee’s coach at Clemson, Dabo Swinney, also had high praise for the young player, telling Saints fans that Bresee “could be a Pro Bowler for years to come” (Saints Wire). And Bresee himself expressed excitement at being selected by the team, saying he had hoped to get a call from the Saints during Round 1 of the draft (Greenville Online).
Bresee’s journey to this point has been marked by tragedy, as his sister Ella died in September 2022 from brain cancer. According to Greenville Online, Ella was close to Bryan and her memory has fueled his drive to succeed. Bresee’s girlfriend, Paige Comerford, also took to social media to express pride in her boyfriend’s accomplishments (New York Post).
Touchdown Wire gave the Saints an “A” grade for selecting Bresee in Round 1, noting that he brings a lot of talent and versatility to the team (Saints Wire). And while it remains to be seen how Bresee will fare in the NFL, his coaches and fans are optimistic about his potential to make an impact on the field.
