One of the nation’s most coveted pass catchers from the Class of 2026, Israel Briggs, announced his commitment to the University of Miami on Tuesday, June 24.
The Redwood senior fielded a reported 26 offers, most of which came from Power Four programs. After an official visit to Miami in June, Briggs chose the Hurricanes over the likes of LSU, Michigan and Alabama.
It had previously been documented that the Visalia native’s top choices were Tennessee, Michigan, California and Miami. But during a commitment announcement, he sat at a table with just two forward-facing hats — LSU and Miami — before making an official decision to join head coach Mario Cristobal’s team in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Briggs’ ascension to the national stage has largely been a product of his rare physical traits. With a formidable 6-5, 210-pound frame, he’d come to fame with his highlight-reel moments, top-end speed and an impressive catch radius — earning praise from each of the leading high school football ranking entities.
The consensus four-star, on a five-star scale, is slotted as the No. 6 tight end in the country and No. 10 overall prospect in California, according to 247sports.com. After playing his first three prep seasons at Mt. Whitney, where he rose to stardom, Briggs will play his senior campaign for Redwood in the fall.
As a freshman, Briggs earned All-East Yosemite League first-team honors after being pulled up to varsity and helped bring an EYL title to the Pioneers in 2023. He’s also starred in basketball and track and field.
In February he verbally committed to play for Arizona State and head coach Kenny Dillingham, not long after the program made an unlikely College Football Playoff appearance. Briggs and Dillingham later came to terms that there was a better opportunity for him elsewhere.
Though reportedly expected to play tight end at the next level, Briggs’ versatility has been well documented throughout the course of his high school career — on both offense and defense. In the past, he’s lined up all over the field as an offensive weapon, played in the secondary and even taken direct snaps. He is currently listed as a receiver, tight end and free safety for his senior season with head coach Curtis Allen at Redwood.
Now, Briggs is slated to head to one of the most well-regarded programs in the country when it comes to producing NFL talent at the tight end position.
Dubbed by many as ‘Tight End U’, Miami has produced a number of household names: Jimmy Graham, Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey, among others. Since 1998, there’s been just one season in which Miami did not have a future NFL tight end starting on offense. Last season’s starter, Elijah Arroyo, was drafted by Seattle in the second round.
Redwood will kick off its season on Friday, August 22 against Centennial. Briggs, one of Tulare County’s top-rated recruits of the 21st century, will be among the best players in the Central Section this upcoming season and garner plenty of attention from opposing defenses.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Once-Arizona State commit Israel Briggs re-commits to Miami
Reporting by Andrew Edwards/Special to the Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
