Trenton Simpson NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Clemson LB
Dec 30, 2022
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 15: Clemson Tigers linebacker Trenton Simpson (22) in pass defense during the Clemson Tigers game against the Florida State Seminoles on October 15, 2022, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'2"
WEIGHT: 235
HAND: 10 1/4"
ARM: 32 3/8"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 4.43
3-CONE: 7.06
SHUTTLE: 4.24
VERTICAL: 40.5"
BROAD: 9'10"
POSITIVES
– Impressive athlete with good change of direction and fluid hips. Can mirror and match against running backs and tight ends in man coverage.
– Uses his hands well to help stay in phase when playing man coverage or get reroutes when playing underneath in zone coverage.
– Has the acceleration to click and close quickly.
– Good ball skills for a linebacker. Plays the hands from a trail position and has decent hand-eye coordination to get pass breakups when facing the quarterback.
– Can use his quickness to make offensive linemen miss at the second level.
– Physical at the point of attack when taking on run blocks and strong enough to get off blocks from tight ends and wide receivers.
– Speed helps him make plays in pursuit. Has the athletic ability to break down and make tackles in space.
– Has the agility and acceleration to be an effective looper in line games as a pass-rusher.
NEGATIVES
– Needs to work for more depth when spot-dropping in zone coverage to tighten the windows between the second and third levels of the defense, especially in Cover 3.
– Struggles to read the quarterback's eyes and anticipate throws in zone coverage.
– Not strong enough against the run to consistently get extension against offensive linemen. Will get pushed around a bit if he can't win at the point of attack.
– Not a violent block-shedder when working to get off blocks. Linemen with good grip strength can latch onto him.
– Has a habit of taking too shallow of an angle versus outside runs.
– High pad level. Likes to lunge and leave his feet when tackling, which will lead to misses.
– No pass-rush moves as a blitzer.
2022 STATISTICS
— 12 GM, 72 TOT, 4 TFL, 2.5 SK, 2 FF, 3 PBU
NOTES
– DOB: June 14, 2001
– Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
– No. 29 on Bruce Feldman's list of top athletes entering this season: 6 percent body fat, benches 375 lbs, power-cleans 355 lbs, 35" vertical jump, 10'2" broad jump, high 4.3s in 40-yard dash (per Clemson's coaches)
– 2021 Honors: Second-team All-ACC (PFF), All-ACC Academic team
OVERALL
Trenton Simpson put on about 10 pounds this offseason, per his school bio, but the extra weight didn't appear to affect his athleticism much (if at all). That's part of the reason why he ended up on Bruce Feldman's "Freaks" list and is one of the top linebackers in this year's draft class.
Simpson has always played with his hair on fire and has been physical at the point of attack against the run. Wide receivers and tight ends working to the second level had trouble blocking him, and the added strength helped him hold his ground and get some extension versus offensive linemen.
However, Simpson still has room for growth in those areas, as bigger and more physical linemen will still be able to push him around a bit in the NFL. He also struggles to get off blocks against the big guys.
Simpson's athleticism shines through when he plays man coverage. He's fluid and sinks his hips well to cover running backs and tight ends on shorter routes, and he has the speed to carry if they go deep.
That speed also comes in handy when he converges on the ball in zone coverage. However, he does struggle to find his landmark while spot-dropping, and he isn't great at reading the quarterback's eyes to anticipate throws, which will leave throwing windows open.
Schematically, Simpson would be best as a "Will" linebacker for a team that uses a lot of even fronts and man coverage. Down the line, he can probably mix in at "Sam," too, but he'll need to become more consistent with his angles on the front side of outside runs before he can make a full-time switch to that position. He also isn't a terrible fit in a zone scheme, but that will take some time and development, and he looks more comfortable in man.
Simpson is what a lot of teams are looking for in a modern-day linebacker. He could easily be a late Day 1 pick and the first linebacker off the board.
Bryan Bresee NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Clemson DL
Dec 30, 2022
CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 10: Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (11) during a college football game between the Furman Paladins and the Clemson Tigers on September 10, 2022, at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'5.5"
WEIGHT: 298
HAND: 10 1/4"
ARM: 32 1/2"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 4.86
3-CONE: 7.41
SHUTTLE: 4.38
VERTICAL: 29"
BROAD: TBD
POSITIVES
— Good size for an NFL defensive tackle and doesn't carry much bad weight.
— Quick reaction to the snap and has good acceleration off the ball, especially on passing downs.
— When working finesse moves as a pass-rusher, he has impressive use of hands to clear the offensive lineman's hands to start the moves.
— He is swift when hand-swiping, and he works the blocker's hands after contact, too.
— He has a nice swim move with a tight arm-over to clear the offensive lineman.
— Also showed a good rip move and the potential to develop a push-pull move down the line. He has the upper body strength to control the lineman and enough hip mobility to clear his lower half.
— As the looper in line games, he has decent agility for a tackle to avoid losing ground when working laterally.
— Solid bend as a pass-rusher.
— He ties his hands to his feet well against the run, allowing him to get his hands up fast and make contact with the offensive lineman on his first step.
— When slanting, he has the initial quickness to throw off the blocker's angles.
— Has the upper body strength to gain control of the bock along with a wide base to hold ground in one-on-ones, and he's solid against doubles.
— He's decent in anticipating a second blocker coming, turning his hips into pressure and reducing the surface area for the second blocker to hit on a double.
— With his base and impressive balance, he can absorb contact against down blocks or when slanting to keep the offensive lineman on his hip and avoid getting washed down.
— When he does keep his hands inside, he is violent and strong to shed and get off blocks.
NEGATIVES
— Has missed 12 games over the last two years with injuries and illnesses, which has stunted his development.
— Plays with high pad level and has a habit of standing up out of his stance.
— Wide hand placement invites offensive linemen into his chest and limits his extension. Might have shorter arms, too.
— Stops his feet on contact against the run.
— His pad level and wide hands diminish the effectiveness of his bull rush.
— When working a push-pull move, he needs to start the move earlier so he can get pressure. The ball is typically out by the time he wins with the move.
— Doesn't have a good pass-rush motor or plan. Doesn't throw a ton of counters and will stop rushing if his initial move doesn't work.
— Subpar tackling form, as he likes to tackle high and struggles to break down and bring ball-carries down in space, whether that's as a pass-rusher against an athletic quarterback or in pursuit as a run defender.
— Not very productive in college with 28 solo tackles (51 total) in 25 games.
2022 STATISTICS
— 10 GM, 15 TOT, 5.5 TFL, 3.5 SK, 2 PD
NOTES
— DOB: Oct. 6, 2001
— No. 14 on Bruce Feldman's list of top athletes entering the season; benches 435 lbs, power-cleans 330 lbs, dead-lifts 585 lbs; 30" vertical; 4.7 seconds in 40-yard dash
— 2020 honors: freshman All-American (several media outlets), ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, first-team All-ACC
OVERALL
Bryan Bresee is an interesting projection, mainly because of how the last two years have played out.
As a freshman at Clemson, he showed a lot of promise and traits that made it easy to see why he was the No. 1 overall recruit in the country. However, like most 18- and 19-year-olds making the transition from high school, he was still raw and needed to refine his technique.
That's what these last couple of seasons were supposed to be about for Bresee, but he has missed nearly as many games as he's played. That's prevented him from showing he can pair his physical traits with clean technique and likely made it difficult to iron out kinks in his game.
All that being said, Bresee does have the rare combination of size, strength and athleticism to suggest he'll be better and more productive as a pro. He's strong enough to hold up against the run and nimble enough to create havoc as a pass-rusher. It's just a matter of staying healthy and how long it will take him to make the transition.
Schematically, Bresee would be best as a 2i- to 3-technique for a team that uses a lot of even fronts. He's not big enough to play as a nose tackle in odd fronts and could play as a 4i- to 5-tech defensive end, but that would be pushing it athletically, so teams running that scheme might look elsewhere for defensive line help.
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Clemson DE Myles Murphy Declares for 2023 NFL Draft; Won't Play in Orange Bowl
Dec 13, 2022
CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 12: Clemson Tigers defensive end Myles Murphy (98) during a college football game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Clemson Tigers on November 12, 2022, at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy will leave college early and jump to the pros.
The junior told ESPN's Pete Thamel he will skip the Orange Bowl, forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft. B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranks Murphy as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 class.
In 2022, Murphy racked up 40 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for a Tigers team that went 11-2. The native of Marietta, Georgia, ends his career at Clemson with 116 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and five pass deflections.
B/R's NFL Scouting Department named him as the most versatile edge-rusher in this year's class. Thamel noted, "Murphy is an end who is best suited for a 4-3 scheme, and he's expected to bring elite speed to that position." Murphy expressed confidence that his unique combination of skills will translate to the next level.
"There's that speed combined with very good strength in my long arm move," he said. "Just those two things, being able to be a very fast defensive end and a speed rusher that's very powerful at the same time. Having offensive linemen thinking about those two things that are polar opposites."
In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft expert Todd McShay predicted Murphy would be selected 14th overall by the Green Bay Packers. Murphy told Thamel that whichever team lands him will get "really just a very elite player, honestly. The sky is the limit. The harder I work, the better player I know I can be."
Murphy will be the latest in a long line of Clemson defensive linemen to be drafted in the first round, joining the likes of Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence.
Examining Vic Burley's Impact on Clemson's 2023 Season Depth Chart
Nov 29, 2022
Defensive lineman and 5-star recruit Vic Burley announced his intention to attend Clemson in June and should instantly find himself competing for playing time next season.
The Warner Robins star announced his commitment in June and is the No. 52 overall player in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.
Burley is already listed at 6'5" and 265 pounds, making him a ready-made star at the next level from a physical standpoint.
"Of course he has the size and the length and all that," Warner Robins head coach Marquis Westbrook said of Burley. "But I think his preparation at his age makes him stand out even more because his approach to the game is unlike any other. Last year as a sophomore, he was really focused, really dedicated to his craft. I think that makes the difference in his game.
"We try to tell our players, 'You can't turn it on at any time.' He's one of those guys who can do that, but he keeps it there. He's different from that standpoint. I think his preparation and his mentality, the way he approaches Monday through Thursday for practice is different, which makes it easy on Friday for him."
Burley is joined in Clemson's 2023 class by 5-star defensive lineman Peter Woods, one of the crowned jewels of Dabo Swinney's haul, and fellow 4-star linemen Tomarrion Parker and Stephiylan Green. The Tigers' defensive line class should help replenish the depth chart that will see several departures this offseason.
Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee are potential first-round picks, while Tyler Davis and K.J. Henry will also be playing on Sundays next season.
The holes across the front seven should give Burley, Woods, Parker and Green a chance to battle it out in camp for significant playing time early in their careers.
CFB Fans Shocked as No. 8 Clemson's 40-Game Home Win Streak Ends vs. South Carolina
Nov 26, 2022
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 26: Beaux Collins #80 of the Clemson Tigers runs the ball against Darius Rush #28 of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
For the first time since Nov. 12, 2016, the Clemson Tigers have lost at home.
The unranked South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the No. 8 Tigers 31-30 on Saturday at Clemson Memorial Stadium to put an end to the team's 40-game home win streak, which is an ACC record.
Aside from the rushing performance by running back Will Shipley, who posted 15 carries for 132 yards and one touchdown, the Clemson offense was wildly disappointing against South Carolina.
Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed just eight of 29 passes for 99 yards and one touchdown against one interception in the loss. His performance was unacceptable, and now the Tigers have been knocked out of College Football Playoff contention.
College football fans ripped Clemson for the loss, which dropped it to 10-2, on Twitter, and understandably so:
South Carolina will beat Clemson, knocking the Tigers from CFP contention.
For the first time in the CFP Era, we will not have either Alabama or Clemson in the playoffs.
Clemson was a good team this year. Not a great team, never elite. Same as last year. So no surprise there is no playoff appearance for Clemson and the ACC.
Dabo Swinney’s refusal to bench DJ Uiagalelei and just roll with Cade Klubnik as the starter for the year is what did Clemson’s season in. The defense and Will Shipley’s back just got tired of carrying this team.
Saturday's win marked South Carolina's second upset victory over a Top 10 opponent after the Gamecocks took down Tennessee last weekend.
With Clemson out of CFP contention, Dabo Swinney will have a lot to figure out moving forward, including whether or not he wants to stick with Uiagalelei as his starting quarterback in 2023.
This year's College Football Playoff is shaping up to be very exciting with a fresh mix of teams.
Dabo Swinney: Criticism Should Be Directed at Me After Clemson's Loss to Notre Dame
Nov 6, 2022
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney directs his team against Wake Forest during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney took the blame for his team's 35-14 upset to Notre Dame on Saturday.
"This was a really bad day and all the criticism was warranted and just should be directed at me, period," he told reporters after the game. "This is one of the most disappointing days that I've had as a head coach."
.@ClemsonFB Dabo Swinney after tonight's loss, "This was a really bad day and all of the criticism is warranted and should be directed at me. Period...it's on me...and again in 14 years of being the head coach, this is one of the most disappointing days..I've had as a head coach. pic.twitter.com/ujUteFRF3D
Swinney added the Tigers "got out-coached in every facet of the game."
Clemson trailed 28-0 in the fourth quarter. The offense gained just 281 total yards as DJ Uiagalelei went 27-of-39 for 191 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
A head coach taking accountability for a disappointing loss is nothing new, but some fans might be wondering whether Saturday did serve as a warning sign to Swinney.
Clemson needed two overtimes to put away Wake Forest in September and needed a 17-point fourth quarter to avoid losing to Syracuse in October. The Tigers finally suffering a defeat isn't surprising.
There were also big-picture questions surrounding the program coming into the 2022 season.
The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and Grace Raynor reported in September 2021 how Swinney's offensive scheme was looking a bit outmoded. With offensive coordinator Tony Elliott leaving to coach Virginia, this offseason presented Swinney with an opportunity to bring in somebody from outside the team with fresh ideas.
Instead, Brandon Streeter got a promotion from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.
On the other side of the ball, Clemson adopted the same approach to replace outgoing defensive coordinator Brent Venables, with Wes Goodwin taking over the unit.
Sometimes evolution is necessary, though. Alabama's continued success might not be happening right now if Nick Saban hadn't brought in Lane Kiffin to lead the offense in 2014.
Swinney just signed a contract extension in September that keeps him at Clemson through 2031. He's obviously not going anywhere for now.
How this season finishes out will, however, go toward addressing the overarching concerns hanging over the program.
CFB Twitter Credits Notre Dame for Exposing No. 4 Clemson as Pretender in Upset
Nov 6, 2022
Notre Dame's Prince Kollie celebrates after scoring on the blocked of Clemson's Aidan Swanson's punt during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
A relentless rushing attack, a dominant defense and sensational special teams propelled unranked Notre Dame to a 35-14 win over No. 4 Clemson on Saturday evening.
The Fighting Irish rushed for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Logan Diggs (114 yards) and Audric Estimé (104) led the way for Notre Dame, who possessed the ball for 33 minutes thanks to their efforts.
The defense shut Clemson out for nearly 50 minutes before the Tigers scored the first of their two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Benjamin Morrison also registered two interceptions, including a 96-yard pick-six that gave Notre Dame a 27-0 lead.
And the Fighting Irish got the ball rolling thanks to a Jordan Botelho blocked punt, which Prince Kollie returned for a 17-yard touchdown.
Clemson didn't play particularly well in either of its last two games, a 34-28 win over Florida State and a 27-21 victory against Syracuse. This time around, the Fighting Irish put their foot on the gas early and never looked back as the Tigers struggled from start to finish.
The loss all but assures that Clemson will not be participating in the College Football Playoff this year, and Twitter gave credit to Notre Dame for its big win over a team that many believed should not have been top four.
Notre Dame exposing Clemson for the frauds they truly are is a worthy of forgiveness for making us sit through one of their CFP/BCS blowout losses.
The entire American public is grateful for Notre Dame for freeing up a CFP spot for someone else instead of defaulting to a clearly not very good Tigers team that everyone could see except Clemson fans. https://t.co/GD8DpEbDTJ
This year’s Clemson team was one of the most overrated teams I’ve seen in my lifetime. Not even close to great. To see them get throttled by a below average Notre Dame team is awesome! And of course eliminates them from the CFP talk which is excellent. GO VOLS!!!!!
