When Jowon Briggs selected Virginia last summer, it came as part of a big day on the recruiting trail for the Hoos. That day saw UVA pick up five commitments, including a pair of four stars between Briggs and Hunter Stewart. No one had been rated higher than Briggs when they committed to the Cavaliers since Bronco Mendenhall took over the program, though.

The flurry of commitments created a stir on The Sabre message boards. When Briggs announced he would attend Virginia, however, it really got the conversation jumping. From 5 p.m. when Briggs announced to 10 p.m., the football message board set a pace that would have ranked in the top 10 days for June 2018 in just five hours!

Keep in mind, Briggs still had a senior season to go in high school and it was more than a year before he would join the Cavaliers. Well, that time has arrived and the “50 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff” series looks at what Briggs might bring to the table this fall.

26 – Will Briggs Make An Impact?

So much excitement accompanied Briggs’ pledge to UVA because he is a talented prospect that also fits the mold at Virginia. Rivals and 247 placed Briggs as a four star recruit overall. Rivals pegged him as the No. 3 defensive tackle in his class, while 247 slotted him No. 7. ESPN.com had him 11th. In other words, he’s considered to be a top shelf recruit at a position of need.

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