Three Tigers named preseason All-American by Sporting News

CLEMSON — Clemson has one of the best rosters in college football and national outlets around the country are taking notice.

Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, defensive end Myles Murphy and offensive tackle Jordan McFadden are expected to be among the best players in the country at their positions in 2021. The trio all earned preseason All-American honors from Sporting News on Tuesday.

Bresee was the only Clemson player to make Sporting News’ first-team. The 2020 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year was a five-star recruit and top player in the country coming out of high school and is expected to take another step forward this fall. Clemson’s defense is expected to be one of the top in college football this season, especially the front seven, which is filled with talent. With so much talent surrounding Bresee, there’s no reason why the freshman All-American can’t build on his four sacks from last season.

“Bryan is pretty unique in that he was able to make the adjustment already,” Dabo Swinney said last fall. “Physically, he was ready the day that he got there. He is just a special physical talent. You’re not going to see many young defensive tackles that can move like him, his size, the athleticism, the strength, the violence. But again, his ability to process and make adjustments from a scheme standpoint has been impressive.”

Bresee will join forces with Murphy on Clemson’s defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive end was named a second-team All-American on Sporting News’ list. He finished his rookie season with a team-high 12 tackles for loss, landing him on numerous freshman All-American teams, and the AP named him ACC Co-Newcomer of the Year. Murphy is ready to be the next elite defensive end product to come out of the Clemson.

McFadden is expected to start at left tackle this season, and Sporting News named him to its second-team preseason All-American offense. He earned second-team All-ACC honors last season and the redshirt senior should make Jackson Carman’s departure a seamless transition for the Tigers.

Clemson always has high standards, and this season is no different. Bryan Bresee, Myles Murphy and Jordan McFadden will be the leaders for the Tigers this fall, and Tuesday’s news was a reminder of the talent on Clemson’s roster.