Per GoBearcats:
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced that fifth-year senior defensive end Jowon Briggs has been nominated for the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team on Tuesday.
Established by the College Football Association in 1992, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. To be considered for a nomination, a student-athlete must be actively involved with a charitable or service organization and maintain strong academic standing.
Briggs was one of 136 student-athletes nationally to earn the nomination due to his community service, academics, and impact on and off the field. The initial list will be cut to the final 23-member AFCA Good Works Team that is selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members, current and former head coaches and journalists. After the team is announced in September, fans can vote for this year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain through the official page on ESPN.com/allstate. Fans can join the conversation on social media with #GoodWorksTeam throughout the season.
The Cincinnati native regularly volunteers his time with a number of local organizations, Matthew 25 Ministries and Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Libraries. He is involved with Lighthouse Youth Services, which provides health services and relief housing for local youth and families. Briggs also serves as vice president of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, where he helps coordinate philanthropic efforts and community service initiatives.
A member of the 2022 AAC All-Academic Team, Briggs earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and music focus and is set to graduate with a second bachelor’s degree in software development in December. He is also an accomplished musician and devoted husband to Nyjae Briggs and father to two kids, Jowon and Reine.
Briggs started all 13 games at nose tackle, anchoring a defense that that ranked fifth nationally in with only 4.61 yards per play allowed and finishing with 61 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks to earn All-AAC First Team honors in 2022. Briggs was named to an Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team selection this offseason and enters the season as the program’s most experienced returner with 17 career starts over the last two seasons after initially starting his career at Virginia from 2019-20.
