“Oh Lord Forbid”: Jonathan Brooks Discusses His Choice to Enter the NFL Draft
Jonathan Brooks discusses his decision to enter the NFL Draft, saying “God Forbid.”
AUSTIN: Even though Jonathan Brooks suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the middle of November, he played like one of the nation’s best running backs through the first ten games of the season, leading the Texas Longhorns to a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. Following a junior year in which he recorded 187 carries for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns along with 25 receptions for 286 yards and another score, he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft after the season finished. For that reason, Brooks was named to the Second Team of the Big 12. Many draft analysts still rank him as the greatest running back in this year’s class, and his play was so good that the long-term worry about his injury barely affected his value.
In an interview with former Longhorns star Alex Okafor for the Behind The Facemask podcast, Brooks discussed his choice to declare for the draft and how his concern over getting hurt again affected it.
Let’s say, for example, that I return to Texas and, god forbid, I suffer a career-ending injury that ends the season. I don’t attend the league at all; all of my goals and dreams have kind of vanished from my memory,” Brooks remarked. The decision was made easier when he continued to receive strong draft evaluations in spite of the ACL tear. “Coming off an injury, I’m still getting better reports than I imagined when the day (the injury) happened,” Brooks stated. “Knowing that I’ll be able to change my life and my family’s life in a few months is satisfying.”
Although Texas supporters are sad to see Brooks leaving, he can’t turn down the chance to become a millionaire this summer before turning 21.
No matter where Brooks is selected, he will join the ranks of Longhorns running backs who have made it into the NFL and further establish Texas’ status as the real “RBU.”
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