Look where Pro Football Focus ranks Kennedy Brooks among returning running backs

Oklahoma Sooners will see the return of Kennedy Brooks in 2021 after his opt-out this past season. He was named No. 3 returning back by PFF.

The Pro Football Focus crew has begun their series of the top returning players in college football at their prospective positions. The Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler came in as the top returning passer in all of college football ball. No surprise considering the top passers in Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, and Zach Wilson all opted for the NFL draft.

The second installment of the series features the top returning running backs. From the 2020 Sooners football team they lose T.J. Pledger as he transferred to Utah and Rhamondre Stevenson opted for the NFL. The most productive back in Seth McGowan will return to Oklahoma but likely as the No. 2 option in the backfield. Another running back made the top list, Kennedy Brooks.

In PFF’s ranking of the top 10 returning running backs, Auburn’s Tank Bigsby comes in at No. 1, and Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn coming in at No. 2. Brooks checks in as the No. 3 back on the list after missing the entire 2020 season when he opted out.

Brooks decided to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but he will be back for the 2021 campaign — very good news for the Sooners.

Brooks was the third-highest-graded ball carrier in the FBS from 2018 to 2019 and established himself as one of the top breakaway threats at the position. No FBS running back churned out 10 or more yards on a higher rate of their carries over that period than Brooks (23.4%). He doesn’t have electrifying speed, but he is elusive and fights through contact as well as anyone.

Year Att Yards Avg TD Touches Scrimmage Yards
2018 119 1,056 8.9 12 129 1,113
2019 155 1,011 6.5 6 165 1,090

The other Big 12 back on the list joining Vaughn and Brooks is Iowa State’s Breece Hall, the nation’s leading rusher in 2020. Add in the Texas Longhorns‘ standout freshman Bijan Robinson and the conference is full of playmaking running backs.

During the 2019 season, Brooks led the Sooners in yards after contact with 549. He would also finish second on the team in runs of 10+ yards behind quarterback Jalen Hurts. Brooks will provide a boost to the offense in 2021.