Photos: Meet Juwuan Briscoe, defensive back

Sports

Photos: Meet Juwuan Briscoe, defensive back

Juwuan Briscoe, a defensive back from Waldorf, Md., was the first player to officially send in his letter of intent to Georgia on Signing Day 2015. He chose the Bulldogs over Ohio State.

Juwuan Briscoe spends a lot of time on his phone. In fact, it was a direct message on Twitter from Georgia assistant coach Kevin Sherrer than changed the course of his recruitment and eventually led him to the Bulldogs. (AJC / CHIP TOWERS)

Though he was committed to Clemson for six months and Ohio State once led for his services, Briscoe committed to the Bulldogs on New Year's Day and was the first to send in his signed papers on National Signing Day. Here he is with his mother Jessie (left) and grandmother.

At one point graduation didn't seem a certainty for Briscoe. But after losing his football eligibility his sophomore year, Briscoe buckled down and made excellent grades his last three years at Thomas Stone High School. (AJC / CHIP TOWERS)

As Jessie Briscoe's only child, Juwuan, is extremely close to his mother. Ms. Briscoe, who works as a cashier at Food Lion, was "emotional" about her son moving so far away to Georgia. But she vows to drive down to Athens for all of his home games each fall.

Though Briscoe will play cornerback for the Bulldogs, it was as a running back that he made his biggest contribution at Thomas Stone High. He rushed for more than 1,500 yards his senior season.

Corey Wimberly (l) was instrumental in getting Briscoe back on a straight and narrow path. A detective in the St. Charles Sherriff's Office and rec-league football coach, Wimberly served as a mentor for Briscoe and helped him navigate the recruiting chaos that eventually came his way. (AJC / CHIP TOWERS)

Juwuan Briscoe's aunt, Michelle Katika Briscoe -- known to family and friends as "Tika" -- was the one who introduced to Briscoe to Corey Wimberly.

On his last day of school at Thomas Stone High, Briscoe was about to leave the grounds when math teacher Cazie Pitts told him to "come over here and sit a minute, Georgia Boy." She proceeded to tell him how proud she was of him and reminded him that he'd be representing Waldorf when he got to Athens, so to be mindful of that in everything he did. (AJC / CHIP TOWERS)

Coach Paul Friel's arrival at Stone in 2012 represented another turnaround for Briscoe. Friel, who coached at Johnson High in Gainsville before relocating to Maryland, showcased Briscoe's speed as the featured back in his run-oriented offense, which helped propel the Cougars to a region championship in 2014. Friel also made sure Briscoe's highlights got in front of the eyes of recruiters, which led to Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State and Clemson all clamoring for his favor. (AJC / CHIP TOWERS)

Juwuan Briscoe is a Christian believer, as the tattoo on his right bicep attests. It's a translation of Proverbs 3:5. "Trust in God with all your heart. Lean not upon your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." (AJC / CHIP TOWERS)

Briscoe enrolled at Georgia this summer, where he participated in the Bulldogs' annual trip to Camp Sunshine. He wanted the number 3 at UGA but got 12 instead.

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Juwuan Briscoe spends a lot of time on his phone. In fact, it was a direct message on Twitter from Georgia assistant coach Kevin Sherrer than changed the course of his recruitment and eventually led him to the Bulldogs. (AJC / CHIP TOWERS)

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