AUSTIN -- Despite suffering a season-ending ACL tear in mid November, Jonathon Brooks helped power the Texas Longhorns to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance after playing like one of the country's top running backs through the first 10 games of the season.
After the season ended, he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft following a junior year that saw him post 187 carries for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns along with 25 catches for 286 yards and another score. Brooks earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors as a result.
His play was so impressive that the long-term concern of his injury hardly impacted his value in the eyes of draft experts, with many still considering him the best running back in this year's class.
During an appearance on the Behind The Facemask podcast with former Longhorns standout Alex Okafor, Brooks opened up about his thought process before declaring for the draft and how the fear of another injury impacted his decision.
"Say for instance I go back to Texas, 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," Brooks said.
When he kept hearing positive draft feedback despite the ACL tear, the decision was made easier.
"Coming off an injury, I'm still getting better reports than I imagined when the day (the injury) happened," Brooks said. " ... 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 hate to see Brooks go, the opportunity to become a millionaire this upcoming summer all before turning 21 is a chance he can't pass up.
Regardless of where Brooks gets drafted, he'll become another Longhorns running back to enter the NFL and will add to Texas' claim as being the true "RBU."
The 2024 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 25 in Detroit.
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