Davidson’s Barclay Briggs’ NFL Draft declaration goes viral

The NFL draft prospect creating a buzz, at least on social media, is none other than the 280-pound backup center from a non-scholarship FCS school.

Barclay Briggs of the Davidson Wildcats is attracting attention online with a social media post that has garnered over five million views and has solidified his spot in college football history as one of the most ambitious athletes in the 2023 draft class.

Briggs, a senior from Houston, Texas, posted on X stating his decision to forego his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft, despite his limited playing time. The post quickly gained popularity and was even noticed by one of his idols, J.J. Watt.

Briggs’ post began during spring practice earlier this year when he and his teammates had a funny idea for a draft declaration by a no-name prospect. After the Davidson season ended, Briggs finally made the announcement.

Despite his sudden popularity on social media, Briggs maintains it is backed by minimal on-field success listed in his Davidson bio. He depicts himself as an optimistic and humorous addition to any locker room and even includes a Bible verse in his post to offer insights into his mindset.

Despite his declaration capturing the attention of people, including J.J. Watt, Briggs realizes his future lies elsewhere. He plans to graduate in May and has already secured a position with a commodities trading firm in Houston.