The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Jonathon Brooks.
Jonathon Brooks' 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
- Height: 6'0
- Weight: 216 lbs
- 40-Time: DNP
- 10-Yard Split: DNP
- Vertical: DNP
- Broad Jump: DNP
- 3-Cone: DNP
- Shuttle: DNP
Jonathon Brooks 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS:
- Experience in zone and gap scheme concepts. He's a smooth, fluid runner with loose hips and an easy gliding feel.
- Showed one-cut downhill burst and acceleration in zone schemes. Effective on mid-zone and outside-zone runs.
- Deceptive short-area burst through the first level of the defense. He often looked like there was no change of speed.
- Burst and build up acceleration to bounce outside, outflank and outrun inside-out pursuit. He has easy gear change.
- Flashed stop-and-start change of direction to defeat penetration and win at the first level. He's tight and compact.
- Navigated through confined space with excellent contact balance and body control to work through tackles.
- Showed some second- and third-level wiggle to make defenders miss in space. Flashed quick feet.
- A glider with a deceptive feel to his speed at the second and third levels of the defense. He forced bad angles at times.
- More to unlock as a receiver in the passing game beyond screens. He showed good hands and run after the catch.
WEAKNESSES:
- He is not a naturally powerful runner. His slightly high cut and upright posture minimize his power into and through contact.
- Ran through a lot of big holes at the POA in Texas offense. It's tough to get a feel for him working through small creases.
- Does not possess higher level or elite elusiveness at the second and third levels of the defense.
Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks jumps over BYU Cougars safety Crew Wakley in the third quarter at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
NFL TRANSITION:
Brooks is one of the better running back prospects in the draft class. He has a smooth, gliding style that often makes it appear he is less quick and explosive than he is. Brooks has little tread on his tires, having been the feature back for only one season.
That season ended with a torn ACL in the eighth game, but he has good experience running zone and gap scheme concepts. What stood out the moment you put on his tape is that Brooks is as smooth a runner as you’ll see with loose hips and easy movement. He looks effortless when bursting through the first level of the defense, making it appear as if there is no change of speed.
Brooks' 2023 tape also showed his excellent contact balance and body control, which seemingly reduced his hitting area at the second and third levels of the defense. That allowed him to press through tackles, even though he is not a naturally powerful runner.
The more I watched Brooks, the more his running style grew on me. It was clean, concise and compact with no wasted motion, and there was a suddenness to him that belied his smooth, fluid movement.
One player who came to mind watching Brooks was James Cook, coming out of Georgia and in his 2023 season with the Bills. Neither is overly big or powerful as a runner, but both have an easy-flowing running style that will transition effectively to the next level.
OTHER NOTES:
Brooks played three years at Texas, becoming the starter in his final season (2023). He put up outstanding numbers: 187 carries, 1139 yards, 10 TDs and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. His 2023 season was cut short by a torn ACL in November (eighth game).
Of Brook's 187 runs, 134 came out of the shotgun. He recorded 134 carries, 900 yards, seven touchdowns and averaged 6.7 yards per carry with a long of 67 yards.
More must-reads: