Most likely Cincinnati Bearcat to be selected in NFL Draft is DL Jowon Briggs

University of Cincinnati football celebrated five NFL draft picks in 2022, three last year and a record nine if you go back to 2009's Sugar Bowl team. This year, the local camera crews and photographers could have a more manageable weekend.

By most projections, the Cincinnati Bearcats have just one pick at best this spring: defensive lineman Jowon Briggs.

Why Briggs?

Briggs was one of eight Bearcats who went to the Big 12's Pro Day in March and to a recent Pro Day at the Cincinnati Bengals new bubble. He measures just under 6-foot-2 and is in the neighborhood of 310 pounds.

He went to the Cowboys training facility in Frisco as UC's bench press record holder, then set the Big 12 mark when he was credited with 39 reps of 225 pounds (though video showed 42).

In addition to his feats of strength, he ran 7.53 in the three-cone drill which would have been second at his position had he been invited to the NFL Combine.

Briggs wasn't among those invited elite, but had a strong performance in the Hula Bowl which resulted in an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl at the Ford Center at The Star (again Cowboys facility).

Coach Satterfield on Briggs

After making First Team All-State at Walnut Hills and being Eastern Cincinnati Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Briggs went to Virginia to play for then-coach Bronco Mendenhall. After two seasons and 14 starts, he transferred back home to Cincinnati where he played for Luke Fickell for two seasons, then last season for Scott Satterfield.

In all, he played in four different schemes asking different things. He has 169.5 career tackles in five seasons, 21.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. His most active year was 2022 when he had 61 tackles, 4.5 TFL and three sacks. Last year's numbers were 27 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks.

"He's an extremely strong individual," Satterfield said. "We saw the numbers he put up, some of the top numbers as far as strength goes. There's probably been less than three guys that even came close to the strength level of him in my 25 years. He's a specimen."

Briggs, like Satterfield, had to endure a 3-9 season. In his first two seasons, UC was 22-5. Still, Briggs was a constant "go-to" guy for media interviews before or after games.

"For him to try and lead in a positive way says a lot about him," Satterfield said."

A mass of maturity

Briggs refers to himself as a "silverback" on his Instagram handle, referencing age and leadership. Leadership he has, age is another thing. It's assumed he's old because he's married with three young children, but Briggs won't turn 23 until September.

"He was a very mature college student," Satterfield said. "With him, you never have to worry about him going off the field and doing something he shouldn't be doing. That's one of the things they hold in high regard, how are they going to carry themselves off the field? He's going to check all those boxes at a high level."

Mike Brown noticed

Bengals owner Mike Brown eventually greets draft picks but not always Pro Day participants. As Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com noted during the workouts April 16 at the IEL Indoor Facility, Brown came up to Briggs and commented on his academic and musical achievements.

In Briggs, you could get a lineman who sings the national anthem before sacking the quarterback. One season, in UC's "Let it Fly" series on YouTube, Briggs, a College-Conservatory of Music grad, sang the introduction.

Who dares to mock Briggs?

Depending on your source, Briggs is anywhere from an undrafted free agent to a sixth-rounder. Though life as an UDFA suited UC's Ivan Pace Jr. just fine last year in Minnesota, most players would prefer the glory of the draft. Here are some projections:

Pro Football Focus; PFF has Briggs slotted No. 179 overall to Seattle.

The Landry Hat: Round 6 to the Cowboys

Just Blog Baby: Round 6 to the Raiders

Bengals Wire: Round 6 to the Bengals

Last Word on Sports: Round 6 to the Ravens

Mile High Report: Round 6 to the Broncos

Detroit Free Press: Round 6 to the Lions

Sports Illustrated: Round 7 to the Bengals

The Athletic: Round 7 to the Jets

Bleacher Report: Back-up UDFA with roster potential

NFL DraftBuzz.com: UDFA

Other Bearcat possibilities

Malik Vann, a 6-foot-3, 267-pound defensive lineman was the No. 8 Big 12 edge rusher and is a projected UDFA. Quarterback Emory Jones ran a 4.77 40-yard dash and is also considered a UDFA. Ditto for Edge/linebacker Daniel Grzesial at 6-foot, 242 pounds with a 4.58 40. Receiver Dee Wiggins at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds ran a 4.62 40 and is also in the UDFA area. Longer shots are center Trevor Radosevich at 6-foot-3, 306-pounds with a 5.32 40 and defensive back Taj Ward at 6-foot, 188 pounds with a 4.63 40-yard dash.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcats lineman Jowon Briggs could be only Bearcat drafted