Greg Brooks Jr.

UPDATES

Week 3: After a 41-14 mauling of Mississippi State, Brooks received the game ball in absentia. He was ruled out of the game after missing Thursday's practice due to a "medical emergency." Coach Brian Kelly would not go into detail, saying he had no comment until "we get a full report" about what caused the emergency, but added “Our thoughts and prayers are with Greg." In two games, Brooks was in on 81 plays, 40 in coverage, gave up three completions in four targets for a total of 14 yards and broke up one pass.

Week 2:  In 72-10 win over Grambling, Brooks was in o;n 15 snaps , seven in coverage. He was targeted twice and gave up two completions for total of 11 yards.

Week 1: In 42-24 loss to Florida State, Brooks started at strong safety was in on 66 snaps, took part in four tackles and missed four tackles. He was targeted in pass defense twice and gave up one, three-yard pass.

OVERVIEW

An experienced player without a real position, but he CAN play corner, slot corner and free safety. Small at 5-9, 187, but with decent speed, clocking 40 yards in 4.43 seconds.  

He moves from position to position easily thanks to a high football IQ. From the nickel position, Brooks Jr. can blitz off the edge. The LSU defense was called DBU in 2020 after featuring a series of great defensive backs (five first round picks and four All-Pros, headlined by former legends Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Tre'Davious White and Jamal Adams). But Brooks arrived through the transfer portal from Arkansas as LSU needed a versatile defensive back.

ANALYSIS

Strengths:

Experienced after starting for Arkansas since he was a freshman in 2019. High football IQ allows him to move easily among every defensive back position. Has good feel as pass rusher in the box and on the edge and looks good in medium zones.

Weaknesses:

Lacks size and quickness to be a great one. Although his reactions are good when played close to the line, he just isn’t a stopper now matter how much he is willing to throw around his body. He sometimes just bounces off blockers or ball carriers.

FRANKLY: Smarter than he is tough, Brooks Jr. gets himself in position to make plays but can't cash in because he lacks size, speed and muscle. A starter since his freshman year, Brooks will be lucky to extend his career after this year at LSU.

 HISTORY — from college profile

Joins teammate Joe Foucha as Arkansas transfers joining the Tigers in 2022 … Three-year starter in the secondary for the Razorbacks from 2019-21 … Appeared 34 games at Arkansas, starting 31 times … Recorded 112 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss … In coverage, broke up 12 passes and had four interceptions … Helped turnaround an Arkansas program that didn’t win a conference game in 2019 to winning nine games.

—at University of Arkansas—

2021 (jr): Played in 13 games with 11 starts in 2021 … Finished year with 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception … Capped season with 4 tackles and an interception in Outback Bowl win over Penn State … Had 4 tackles in win over Texas A&M … Recorded season-high 7 tackles in consecutive games against Georgia and Ole Miss.

2020 (soph): Played in nine games, making eight starts at nickel back … Logged 39 tackles (22 solo), sixth-most on the team and fourth-most by a defensive back … Also added 3.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one pass broken up and two quarterback hurries … Recorded a team-best 79 interception return yards … Recorded Arkansas’ first interception return for a touchdown since 2016, picking off QB K.J. Costello and returning it 69 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first drive in the win at Mississippi State (Oct. 3) … According to Pro Football Focus, played 584 defensive and 115 special teams snaps … Tallied a 58.7 defensive grade and a single-game high grade of 67.9 against Missouri.

2019 (fr): Started all 12 games at nickel back for the Razorbacks in 2019 … Played in 515 snaps in his debut season, the most of any freshman at Arkansas in 2019 … Recorded 25 total tackles, 13 solo, with three pass breakups, a quarterback hurry and an interception … Earned a coverage grade of 81.6 from Pro Football Focus vs. Missouri … Intercepted first career pass in season-finale against Missouri …

High school: 4-star prospect by Rivals and ESPN at West Jefferson High School (Harvey, LA) … Rated as the No. 35 cornerback in the nation and 18th overall in the state of Louisiana by ESPN … Four-year varsity letterwinner at West Jefferson High School in Harvey, Louisiana … Racked up 55 tackles and five interceptions as a junior in 2017 for the Buccaneers … Father Greg Brooks Sr. played collegiate football as a defensive back for one year at Michigan and three seasons at Southern Miss before being drafted in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

2022

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
2.0	0.0	57.0	0.0	2.0	1.0	33.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	15.0	30.0	2.0