Previous Spring Tour Stops
Stop 1: FSU making push for Fields, other top Georgia prospects
Stop 2: 'Noles very high on list of top DB in Georgia
Stop 3: Latest on Chiles LB Gainer, and a new star emerges in Madison
Kissimmee Gateway -- DE/DL Dennis Briggs Jr.
Our Spring Recruiting Tour made its way to central Florida this week, and our first stop there was at Gateway High School in Kissimmee, where rising defensive end Dennis Briggs Jr. is creating quite a buzz.
Briggs picked up an offer from Florida State this spring, and he also has been a regular visitor to the Seminoles' campus. When we checked in on him this week, though, his primary focus was on spring practice, which started last week.
"Spring is great. I'm making sure all the younger guys understand the assignments," Briggs said. "For me, I'm making sure I come off the ball low, [improving] my get-offs and working on my hands and making them violent."
According to Briggs, he has played both the weakside and strongside DE positions on the line. He doesn't have a preference, and Gateway head coach Marlin Roberts says Briggs has made great improvement in his technique during the past two seasons.
Already standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 255 pounds, there is a chance that he could grow into a defensive tackle at the next level.
"I used to rely on being strong or my size, but I know in college it's going to be different," Briggs said. "So I needed to take those [technique] areas to another level."
When it comes to recruiting, Briggs' status is rising fast. According to Roberts, the Florida Gators recently made it clear that he has an offer there, and Florida State and Miami have had offers in place for quite some time. FSU and UM also are the two schools he has visited the most.
"Miami caught my attention as it was the first big in-state offer," Briggs said. "Also, Coach Kuligowski (defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski) talked about the amount of players he's put in the NFL and how he could use me. Then with FSU, what caught my attention was how they run their spring practice, the coaching, and you really feel the family love there at FSU. Probably more than any place I've seen."
When asked what stood out about his trips to Tallahassee, Briggs mentioned the interaction he saw with the players and coaches, but even more so the interaction with FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher and his players.
"He's a very easy guy to talk to," Briggs said. "You always feel comfortable with him. I was excited when I got the offer and a little surprised. This one was a big one for me."
Briggs added that Fisher presented the offer himself on the visit, which gave it an added meaning. He said the Seminoles also explained how they envisioned him fitting into their defense.
