Dabo Swinney opens up on Bryan Bresee's sister, Ella, impact on Clemson program

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney opened up about how much the story of Bryan Bresee‘s sister, Ella, has impacted the Tigers program. Bresee is one of the brightest stars on the Clemson roster, all while his family supports his sister in her battle with brain cancer at just 15 years old.

Ella’s story has been a source of inspiration for many members of the Clemson program who’ve met her and been around her incredible attitude — something that Swinney understands as much as anyone else.

Dabo Swinney on Ella Bresee

“Ella is an inspiration for our whole locker room,” said Swinney. “Everybody loves Bryan, everybody loves his family. He’s got a beautiful family. Beautiful sisters, awesome mom and dad — just great, great people. You get to know people in the recruiting process. Ella, she was a young middle schooler when I guess I met her and now she’s 15. And she’s in a tough battle.

“She’s an inspiration. Being with her at the ladies clinic and seeing just her spirit and her joy in the moment — it was inspiring. She’s definitely someone that I pray for every day, and their family. I know our team really is praying for her as well. Just keeping our arms around Bryan and lifting him up as he navigates what he’s trying to do on a daily basis but also be there and support his sister.”

Bryan Bresee is a rising star within the Clemson defensive line, although injury kept him from the field for most of the 2021 season as he played in just four games after tearing his ACL against NC State. Bresee was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 and was a first-team All-ACC selection as a freshman. In his freshman year, he recorded 33 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and a safety.

Prior to going down to injury early last year, he added another 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception in just four games.

Ella Bresee was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, according to a report from TigerNet. Medulloblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer, presenting with a malignant brain tumor that begins in the cerebellum. The tumor can spread through cerebrospinal fluid throughout the brain. Ella is Bryan’s younger sister, a high school student — and began chemotherapy in August 2021. Her positivity has kept her a source of inspiration for Bryan, and that positivity has spread throughout the Clemson locker room.