Bryan Bresee No. 1 Recruit to NFL Draft: How Former Top Prospects Fare in the Draft

Bryan Bresee came to Clemson in 2020 as the No. 1 overall recruit in 247’s Composite Rankings, which combines the rankings of the major recruiting services. Following a freshman season that saw Bresee named to the All-ACC team, he battled injuries in 2021 and 2022 before declaring for the NFL Draft this offseason. So how have former No. 1 overall prospects fared when it comes to the NFL Draft?

2015 - Trenton Thompson - Georgia

Thompson came to Georgia with a ton of expectations, but after a promising start to his career, Thompson became a rotational player on Georgia’s front. He declared early for the Draft in 2018 and was not selected. Thompson ended up signing a free-agent deal with the Cleveland Browns but was waived before seeing the field. He’s gone on to play in multiple other leagues, including the CFL, AAF, XFL, and IFL.

2016 - Rashan Gary - Michigan

Rashan Gary was one of the highest-rated recruits in history, coming to Michigan with a perfect 1.000 ranking. Accumulating 9.5 sacks and 119 tackles over his three seasons at Michigan, he declared early for the Draft. The Green Bay Packers selected Gary with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s put together a solid NFL career, with 22.5 sacks over 4 seasons.

2017 - Jaelan Phillips - UCLA/Miami

Phillips had an interesting college career. After a strong freshman season, Phillips dealt with a rash of injuries that led him to medically retire from football in 2018. In 2019, he decided to transfer to Miami, where he sat out the 2019 season due to transfer rules. He finished 2020 with 8 sacks before deciding to enter the NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins selected him with the 18th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he’s produced ever since. Phillips has accumulated 15.5 sacks in his first two seasons.

2018 - Trevor Lawrence - Clemson

Clemson fans don’t need a reminder of what Lawrence accomplished in college, winning the 2018 National Championship, and losing just two games in his three years as a starter. Lawrence was selected with the 1st pick in last year’s NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. After a tough rookie campaign, Lawrence led the Jaguars to the postseason in 2022, earning a spot on the AFC’s Pro Bowl roster.

2019 - Nolan Smith - Georgia

Like Bresee, Nolan Smith is currently preparing for the 2023 NFL Draft. Smith put together a solid college career, accumulating 12.5 sacks in his four seasons at Georgia. He was putting together his best season as a senior before a pectoral injury sidelined him. A strong combine performance has vaulted him back into the first-round conversation.