2023 NFL Draft: Where Bryan Bresee, Myles Murphy stack up as prospects among Clemson DL over the years

Dabo Swinney and his Clemson staff have done some tremendous recruiting, landing many elite, top-of-the-class players over the past decade-plus. While the Tigers haven’t inserted themselves into any “Wide Receiver University” or “Cornerback University” conversations, Swinney has sent a nice collection of defensive linemen to the NFL in the first round, and he has two horses ready to become household names during the 2023 draft cycle, Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy. 

Both enormous recruits have looked the part early in their respective Clemson careers. Where do they stack up against former Clemson defensive front players when they were prospects? 

Important to remember here: This is how these players were universally viewed as prospects, factoring in off-field and maturity issues. Their NFL careers had no bearing on these rankings. Let’s go!

6. Clelin Ferrell, EDGE (2019)

If Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock collaborated on this article, Ferrell would be No. 1. The former Raiders brain trust shocked the draft world in 2019, when they selected Ferrell at No. 4 overall. Per Grinding The Mocks, Ferrell’s expected draft position was almost No. 20 overall, which made for an incredibly wide disparity for a player ultimately selected early in the first round. And Ferrell was a case in which the masses were correct. Undoubtedly a stud at Clemson, with 50.5 tackles for loss and 27 sacks in three seasons as a full-time player at Clemson, Ferrell’s stiffness around the corner was evident on film and at the combine. His pass-rush moves were average for such a productive player, and his lack of high-caliber burst limited how quickly he could get to the quarterback. 

5. Shaq Lawson, EDGE (2016)

Lawson was a three-year contributor at Clemson, his final two seasons spent as one of the first-string edge rushers. His sack production swelled from 3.5 in his sophomore season to 12.5 as a junior, the same year he had 24.5 tackles for loss. A thick, tone-setter on the edge, Lawson’s game was more predicated on his natural power than spectacular burst or bend around the corner. The Bills selected him at No. 19 overall, which at the time was viewed as somewhat of a steal in a down edge-rusher class after Joey Bosa. A quality prospect, Lawson lands at No. 5 in these rankings because he wasn’t viewed as special. 

4. Christian Wilkins, EDGE/DT (2019)

Safe. That word was probably typed in every single…