British

Brooks

Brooks (5'10/200) was a potential breakout candidate heading into this season after rushing for 31-295-4 last season. Expected to be named the starter in an offense that is looking to rebuild after losing Sam Howell to the 2022 NFL Draft, Brooks had a chance to shoulder a decent amount of the work early in the season, likely splitting reps with D.J. Jones and Elijah Greene. Jones and Greene will both slide into more prominent roles with Brooks’ absence, with Jones likely set for the RB1 role early.

Brooks (5'10/200) was among the brighter spots in what could have been a much better day for the Tar Heels. Brooks finished the Mayo Bowl as the team’s leading rusher with five carries for 72 yards and one touchdown, good for an average of over 14 yards. Brooks has already announced he’ll be returning to UNC in 2022.

Brooks (5'10/200) has not seen much action in his four years with the Tar Heels but will take advantage of the fifth-year option given to players due to the Covid pandemic. The walk-on didn’t see much time on the field this year, but got see an increase in carries in the final game of the season and ran for a career-high 124 yards.

With teammate Ty Chandler being held mostly ineffective all night, the former walk-on Brooks (5'10/200) had the game of his life. Brooks was a monster on the ground, including a fourth-down play where Brooks was stuffed at the line of scrimmage but fought for three-plus seconds to escape and went for 12 yards to get the first down. Going into senior day last week, Brooks had rushed for 10 yards and a touchdown. The last two weeks, Brooks has rushed for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Brooks will get one more opportunity to play in a bowl game that will be announced.