Bryan Bresee was feeling the love from one of his biggest fans Thursday night as his NFL dreams were realized.
Shortly after the Saints selected the Clemson defensive tackle with the 29th overall pick in the first round, Bresee’s girlfriend, Paige Comerford, commemorated the life-altering moment with a heartfelt post.
“Proud of you today & everyday,” Comeford posted on her Instagram Story, re-sharing a collage from the ACC Sports and Clemson Football Instagram accounts.
“No one more deserving.”
Bresee, the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, was watching the 2023 NFL Draft from home with his family when he received that fateful phone call from the Saints.
“To get that call from the Saints is something you can’t even imagine until it happens,” Bresee said, according to Nola.com. “It was really exciting.”
It was an emotional scene for the Bresee family, who all wore “Ella Strong” shirts in honor of the defender’s 15-year-old sister, who succumbed to her battle with cancer in September.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen called Bresee an “exceptional talent” after New Orleans made the pick.
“He’s big, he’s physical, he’s athletic, fills a position in need, and I think he’s going to be an outstanding addition to our team,” Allen said of the 6-foot-5, 305-pound tackle.
Bresee recorded nine sacks and 15 tackles for a loss throughout his three years at Clemson.
With Bresee’s next chapter about to begin in New Orleans, both his family and Comerford will be there as sources of support.
A pre-med student at Clemson, Comerford has been linked to Bresee since at least 2022, according to Instagram posts.
Bresee even joked about the couple making their red-carpet debut in a post from December.
“Our Audition for the Met Gala,” he quipped at the time.
