A few thoughts/observations on Brooks
Just wanted to throw a few thoughts on the board about Brooks and how his recruitment really unfolded.
I first saw him last summer at the Five-star challenge in Baltimore and while he was a little undersized compared to the guys there that were a year older than him, his athleticism really stood out to me. He was just really tough for linebackers to hang with and he looked like he could be a guy that stretched the field for a team.
Was really surprised and impressed with him at the event. He definitely looks the part that's for sure.
Also, knowing what Tennessee likes to do with their tight ends, I think he really fits that mold as well. I think Ethan Wolf is what they want every tight end to look like for the most part, expect for maybe an h-back which is what I think Creamer could mold into, and Brooks is that guy. He didn't flex out a lot his sophomore year, but I've seen him be able to do it so I think he can be a diverse guy.
Also, after talking to his coach and going back and watching his tape, I think he wants to block and likes to. Thats a good thing for a young tight end.
If he recovers well from his ACL injury, which his coach told me he's ahead of schedule there, and returns to what he was athletically, he can be very good.
As for his recruitment, you could tell this summer that Elder really targeted Brooks last spring and this summer as his guy.
In talking to Brooks several times it was a huge deal that Elder and Tennessee didn't slow down recruiting him because of his injury. A lot of teams backed off and took a wait and see approach but Tennessee was the opposite of that and really seized the opportunity there.
His family made the trip down from DC for the Chattanooga game and that was big. That was the first time I got the sense that Brooks was taking Tennessee very seriously.
In talking to some people the last few days I got the vibe, as did John, that Brooks could be more of an when and not if guy. I didn't think he would do something this morning, but hopefully we conveyed in our Wednesday night notes that Tennessee was very much in it for Brooks.
hmy:
