BYU working again Chris Brooks will get in some reps throughout 2022 spring camp in Provo. The Cal grad switch is raring to choose up the ball and run for the Cougars when the autumn season begins. Jaren Wilkey, BYU Picture
BYU working again Christopher Brooks walks off the sector after observe within the Indoor Apply Facility at BYU in Provo on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
BYU working again Chris Brooks will get in some reps throughout 2022 spring camp in Provo. Jaren Wilkey, BYU Picture
When the Atlanta Falcons chosen Tyler Allgeier within the fifth spherical of the NFL draft, Chris Brooks and others within the BYU working backs room have been all smiles. They every have an analogous dream.
NFL Corridor of Famer, former BYU Corridor of Fame quarterback and ESPN analyst Steve Younger advised “BYU Sports activities Nation” this week he believes Allgeier is correct the place he must be.
“Tyler is in a fantastic spot to go play,” Younger mentioned. “I believe Tyler begins by Week 3.”
Allgeier joins Detroit Lions and former Cougar Jamaal Williams as NFL highway graders, even pioneers, for future BYU working backs, together with Brooks.
The Cal switch hopes to observe of their footsteps, each at LaVell Edwards Stadium this fall and within the 2023 NFL draft subsequent spring.
Units of three
Surfers know that ocean waves break in units of three. BYU’s floor assault is in an analogous sample. Brooks follows Allgeier and Williams as Californians, every is a Black student-athlete, every was raised by a single mom, every is admittedly a survivor of a difficult childhood, every is a member of a religion totally different from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors BYU, and every selected to play soccer in Provo.
As the primary wave, Williams (2012-16) completed because the Cougars’ all-time main rusher with 3,901 yards. Allgeier (2018-2022) is BYU’s all-time single season dashing chief with 1,601 yards. Brooks, the third wave, will get his first carry for the Cougars on Sept. 3 at South Florida with the identical aim in thoughts — run just like the wind and earn a job within the NFL.
Brooks is 6-1 and 235 kilos. He’s larger than each Williams (6-0, 212) and Allgeier (5-11, 215), however the sneakers they left for him to fill are monumental.
Born in Tonga and a beachgoer himself, BYU coach Kalani Sitake is aware of the third breaking wave to hit the shoreline is commonly the most important and strongest. Brooks had that form of an influence at Cal when he hit the road of scrimmage.
How his ability set interprets into sport performances at BYU stays to be seen, however his spring observe debut left offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick desirous to journey his sport plan on one other massive wave from California.
A story of two freshmen
The lengthy wait was over. After months of conditioning and observe, 52,602 BYU followers have been lastly getting the possibility to cheer on their beloved Cougars within the Sept. 8, 2018, house opener towards Cal.
BYU was contemporary off a 28-23 win at Arizona and the Bears had simply crushed North Carolina 24-17 of their house opener in Berkeley.
On every respective sideline stood two wide-eyed freshmen — Brooks and Allgeier. They fired basic glares throughout the sector towards one another, fully unaware of who or what they have been taking a look at, and with no concept how their lives would finally align.
“I keep in mind it received loud when one in every of our working again’s fumbled and BYU returned it for a landing,” Brooks mentioned. “I simply performed on particular groups, however we got here out flying round.”
BYU working again Christopher Brooks walks off the sector after observe within the Indoor Apply Facility at BYU in Provo on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
After three hours and 29 minutes of battle, simply earlier than midnight, Cal accomplished its 21-18 victory and each gamers left the sector having made no influence on the end result.
Brooks, who was nonetheless utilizing Brown as his final identify, performed sparingly on particular groups, however by no means touched the soccer. As an alternative, he watched seven teammates carry the ball and 7 receivers catch passes.
Throughout the best way, underneath the glimmering lights on the BYU sideline, Allgeier stood and stayed there all the sport. The walk-on working again/linebacker watched eight teammates carry the soccer and 11 catch passes.
It wasn’t their time, nevertheless it was coming.
Through the months and years forward, their respective roles modified dramatically. Brooks even modified his final identify to honor his single mom, Raquel Brooks.
With perseverance, he fought by means of damage and emerged as Cal’s main rusher in 2021 and completed with 1,734 profession yards and 21 complete touchdowns. In his final sport with the Bears on Dec. 4 in Berkeley, the Oceanside, California, product rushed 14 occasions for 49 yards and scored two touchdowns in Cal’s 24-14 win towards USC. It was a far cry from his empty field rating at BYU 4 years earlier.
Allgeier’s final impression with the Cougars was much more spectacular. He rushed 27 occasions for 192 yards and three touchdowns towards UAB within the Independence Bowl on Dec. 18. The Fontana, California, product broke Luke Staley’s single-season dashing file with 1,601 yards. He additionally completed his BYU run at No. 5 all-time in dashing with 2,899 yards and 37 complete touchdowns.
Allgeier opted out early for the NFL and is settling into his new group in Atlanta because the Falcons’ fifth-round draft choose. Brooks accomplished his psychology diploma at Cal, and with the liberty provided to a grad switch, he selected to catch his closing wave at BYU with the project of filling the void left by Allgeier.
Philosophy over emptiness
Brooks mentioned early in his BYU dedication that he selected the Cougars over provides from Purdue, Arizona State and Notre Dame. He was bought on Sitake’s philosophy of “love and study,” not on BYU’s emptiness within the backfield. He didn’t drive to campus on a gasoline tank fueled with guarantees or a checking account full of NIL cash. As an alternative, he confirmed up with the understanding that with exhausting work he might earn the beginning place.
“Every part is earned, not given. I've to earn it, like anyone else. I'm not strolling in right here anticipating something.” — BYU working again Chris Brooks
“Every part is earned, not given. I've to earn it, like anyone else,” Brooks advised the Deseret Information when he arrived for spring drills. “I'm not strolling in right here anticipating something.”
The caveat with the Cougars is an offensive line that's each massive in dimension and expertise. The projected beginning six, together with Dallin Holker or Isaac Rex at tight finish, will give Brooks a entrance line that averages 6-6 in peak and 308 kilos.
Williams, the college’s all-time main rusher, ran behind a middle that was 6-0 (on an excellent day) and 290 kilos (after a giant meal). Brooks will run behind Connor Pay who's 6-5 and 312 kilos (day-after-day). The grad switch, who desires to dabble in actual property after soccer, already is aware of the important thing ingredient to transferring a land deal, or the ball, ahead is location, location, location.
Firmly planted behind BYU’s huge and skilled entrance line, with a veteran quarterback (Jaren Corridor) and a receiving corps which may be among the many finest in class historical past (Puka Nacua, Gunner Romney, Keanu Hill and Chase Roberts), Brooks is in an ideal location, for his relocation, to complete his collegiate profession.
He's the third wave in a set of three California working backs to interrupt alongside the bottom of the Rocky Mountains at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Time will inform if Brooks is the most important and strongest of the three, however he's clear proof that BYU’s gravitational pull on proficient soccer gamers is rising stronger.
The Cougars are taking a one-year moonshot on Brooks, and he's doing the identical with BYU. In consequence, the tide is excessive, the surf is up and a promising third wave is gaining energy simply offshore.
It’s anticipated to hit on BYU’s first offensive possession Sept. 3 at South Florida.
Dave McCann is a contributor to the Deseret Information and is the studio host for “After Additional Assessment,” co-host for “Countdown to Kickoff” and the “Postgame Present” and play-by-play announcer for BYUtv.
BYU working again Chris Brooks will get in some reps throughout 2022 spring camp in Provo.
Jaren Wilkey, BYU Picture