Utah State Aggies: Player Watch – RB Robert Briggs

The Player Watch, highlighting Utah State Aggies running back Robert Briggs Jr.

• Robert Briggs Jr
• Position: Running Back
• Utah State Aggies
• 5’6” 185 lbs

Who is Robert Briggs Jr?

Robert Briggs was a 3⭐️  in the composites and attended Bellville High in Texas. He and was a multi-sport athlete who was a guard on the basketball court and ran track and field with a verified 10.91 second 100-meter dash. Briggs was part of the 2022 recruiting class. He finished his high school career with over 3,300 rushing yards, 43 touchdowns with 68 catches for 1,357 and 20 touchdowns. Briggs was a two way player on the football field also, spending time at cornerback.

Over the years, Utah State has developed a recruiting pipeline into Texas – and Robert Briggs was a key commit for the Utah State Aggies. Briggs made an impact as a true Freshman with 74 carries for 353 yards a touchdown. He also  brought in 7 receptions for 31 yards.

This past season as a true Sophomore, Briggs would earn the RB3 spot in the rotation and become part of the three-headed trio. Briggs carried the ball 80 times for 420 yards and two touchdowns whiling hauling in six receptions. Briggs had five games with eight or more carries – and he had a couple of breakout games this past season. He earned 101 yards on 9 carries against Idaho State and had a career-high 19 carries against Colorado State. The running back was also efficient against San Diego State and Nevada during the college football season.

Strengths

Robert Briggs is the change of pace back for the Utah State Aggies. He is quick as a jitterbug and his track background shows on the gridiron when he is able to get into the open field. During the college football season, the Aggies running back was able to showcase his speed and elusiveness against Idaho State where he ran for over 100 yards.

As the third back in the Aggies rotation, Briggs had four games of 59 yards or more rushing on limited carries. Utah State uses wide splits for their receivers, which causes a light box in the run game. If Briggs is able to get space, he can make defenders miss with ease.

Areas of Improvement & Concern

Robert Briggs hasn’t been much of a receiver out of the backfield so far in two seasons at Utah State. I would expect that to change this season. Getting Briggs out in space is key, and quick dump offs would allow that to happen and let him create after the catch. But there are other volume concerns, too.

Last season, Briggs had five games of six carries or less. With a three-headed backfield, it’s tough for any running back to find a rhythm. And, knowing that you’re the third man in the rotation, you know that you need to make an impact if your number is called. It’s a tough situation, but Briggs has done a good job with limited touches. With this being his third year in the system, there’s a chance for a bigger role for Briggs.

Coming in at 5 feet 6 inches and 185 pounds, Briggs will never be a workhorse running back. Because of that, he will be limited with his opportunities, especially in the green zone and short yardage situations. With Briggs not being effective as a pass catcher, he’s limited to just a handful of carries per game.

Beyond the Numbers

Robert Briggs made three starts in 2023. He played 230 snaps and saw 80 carries. Of the 420 rushing yards he had, 231 occurred after contact. That equals to 2.89 yards after initial contact while forcing 22 missed tackles. Briggs had 12 rushes of over 10 yards and earned 20 first downs. A staggering 29.2% of his rushes were breakaway runs.

In the passing game, Briggs was targeted six times and hauled in all of his targets. This season, Briggs will once again be part of a three-headed committee for the Aggies. Briggs was proven to be effective on limited touches and has a chance to carve out a bigger role – especially as a receiver.

Pathway to Success

Being in a three-back system, Robert Briggs will be fresh as the season goes on and in each game. The Aggies rotating their running backs makes each individual fresh in the fourth quarter. If Utah State has a lead, they can lean on the run game to close out opponents.

Briggs is the change of pace back in the Aggies backfield. He brings track speed to the running back room and elusiveness in the open field. Briggs has put on about 15 pounds since his high school days, which means he’s unlikely to further bulk his frame. Adding additional weight could slow him down; considering that he’s the change of pace running back, speed and quickness are his best traits. That gives him an edge, as the other two backs (Davon Booth and Rahsul Faison) are 5 feet 10 inches and 205 pounds. The three work cohesively together and mesh well as a unit.

2024 Outlook

The Aggies like to play up tempo, using wide splits with their receivers. This means opposing defenses can’t load the box and running lanes will be available for the running backs. Briggs can find spacing with that and be effective as a runner and potentially, as a receiver. The Aggies haven’t used him that way yet, but in high school, he was a good receiver out of the backfield. It will be interesting to see how Briggs’ usage will change in his third year in the system.