Right around Thanksgiving, NFL and college football fans' wandering eyeballs usually begin to turn toward the draft. Top prospects are isolated and dissected; bowl games are forgone and used as stock-boosters alike.
This year's biggest draft names are coming into focus: USC quarterback Caleb Williams, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
However, fans have yet to account for Davidson offensive lineman Barclay Briggs.
Briggs may have played only sparingly for the Wildcats from 2021-23, but that didn't stop him from making the NFL draft declaration announcement of the century Tuesday morning.
"Many of you may ask yourselves, 'If he barely saw any playing time at a non-scholarship FCS program, why does this guy think he has any chance in the NFL?'" Briggs wrote at the end of a social media post that went viral on Wednesday.
"This is an entirely reasonable reaction, and I don't blame any of you for thinking this. I will provide roughly zero on-field value for an NFL franchise, but I'd probably be pretty fun to have around."
Acts 2:15 #RespectMyDecision pic.twitter.com/j408iIR9Ws
— Barclay Briggs (@bbriggs2016) November 21, 2023
Fans, writers and NFL players were quick to praise Briggs's announcement. Many pointed to the Bible verse he cited, Acts 2:15: "These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning."
Greatest draft announcement ever.
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) November 22, 2023
(Look up the Bible verse.) https://t.co/6G2z4s1MuN
The 11th pick of the 2011 draft, future Hall of Fame defensive end J.J. Watt, weighed in as well.
This is gold.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 22, 2023
😂😂😂 https://t.co/Qnm4JzeWja
With Davidson's season in the books after a 45-14 loss to Dayton on Saturday, Briggs provided fans with the perfect Thanksgiving gift.
This Thanksgiving I am thankful for: https://t.co/Ki12Ya68ve
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) November 22, 2023
NFL draft analysts rushed to add him to their annual guides, while fans moved Briggs to the top of their big boards.
There is a 50% chance that I will use my last draft profile of the year on Barkley Briggs now. Please read the last two paragraphs and respect his decision. https://t.co/3WB9lRkMu3
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) November 22, 2023
I’d take this dude first overall https://t.co/BRwH954vZU
— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) November 22, 2023
The Wildcats have produced seven NFL players all-time, per Pro Football Reference. Surely there's room for one more?
