In a surprising move, Jonathon Brooks, despite facing a season-ending ACL tear in mid-November, played a crucial role in propelling the Texas Longhorns to a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Displaying exceptional performance as one of the nation’s top running backs in the first 10 games of the season, Brooks declared for the 2024 NFL Draft after completing a junior year that showcased his prowess with 187 carries for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns, along with 25 catches for 286 yards and an additional score. Despite the injury, he earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors, and draft experts still regarded him highly, considering him one of the best running backs in this year’s draft class.
Speaking on the Behind The Facemask podcast alongside former Longhorns standout Alex Okafor, Brooks shared insights into his decision-making process and how the fear of potential injuries influenced him. Expressing concern about the risk of returning to Texas and facing another career-threatening injury, Brooks said, “God forbid I have an injury, like it’s a season-ending, career-ending. I don’t go to the league at all, now all my dreams and aspirations are kinda gone in my head.” Despite this worry, positive draft feedback following the ACL tear eased his decision. He stated, “Coming off an injury, I’m still getting better reports than I imagined when the day (the injury) happened. It’s satisfying knowing that in a couple of months I’ll be able to change my life and my family’s life.”
While Texas fans may be disappointed to see Brooks leave, the allure of the opportunity to potentially become a millionaire before turning 21 was too compelling for him to ignore. Regardless of where he gets drafted, Brooks will join the ranks of Longhorns running backs entering the NFL, contributing to Texas’ reputation as the true “RBU” (Running Back University). The 2024 NFL Draft is scheduled to commence on Thursday, April 25 in Detroit.
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