7. Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 240
40-Yard Dash: 4.54 seconds
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: At Stratford High School in Houston, Jordyn Brooks was a two-sport athlete, starring at outside linebacker for the football team and serving as a sprinter on the school’s track-and-field team, running a leg on the 4×100 relay team. Brooks was graded as a three-star recruit and was given offers from Colorado State, Arkansas, Houston, Iowa State, Missouri and Washington, but chose to enroll at Texas Tech.
Brooks was a starter from the day he set foot on campus. He slid into an inside linebacker roll and showed the ability to be a force against the run while still able to handle his coverage responsibilities. Last year he registered 86 total tackles, a career-high number for him.
Stat to Know: Brooks was also disruptive as a pass rusher. He had 117 pass rush chances last season and came away with 44 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. That was eight more pressures than he had in his first three seasons combined.
Strengths: Brooks is an explosive downhill player with the athleticism to contribute against the pass in both zone and man coverage schemes. He has a great nose for the football and when he diagnoses the play, he explodes in the direction of the ball-carrier and does his best to eliminate them as a threat. He has impressive range, with the ability to work sideline-to-sideline against the run.
When dropping into underneath zones, he is able to jam and re-route crossing routes or threats to his zone, while keeping his eyes trained on the quarterback. Texas Tech also allowed him to spy or freelance in underneath areas at times. He has the athleticism to play man coverage, best against bigger tight ends or running backs but he can stick on more athletic players from time to time.
Against the run he is both powerful and agile. He has the ability to sift through traffic and get to the ball-carrier, but he is also willing – and powerful enough – to stone blockers in the hole, disengage and make the tackle. He has the throwback ability to play down near the line of scrimmage and between the tackles.
Weaknesses: While Brooks is more athletic than some of the linebackers in this class, he is not an elite athlete. Against Arizona he was tasked with spying quarterback Khalil Tate from time to time, and there are examples of him losing contain against him and grasping for turf as the QB danced around him. Unlike some of the overhang, space linebackers in this group Brooks is best suited in a traditional alignment, down near the line of scrimmage or between the tackles. While his straight-line speed is impressive, as was the 40-yard dash he ran at the combine, his change-of-direction ability is lacking. Being tasked with covering slot receivers in space, or shiftier tight ends, might be a difficult ask.
Conclusion: Along with the next player we will discuss, Brooks is more of a throwback type of player. He belongs near the line of scrimmage and between the tackles, using his power against the run to blow up lead blockers, stack and shed them in the hole and chop down ball-carriers near the line. Brooks can handle some man coverage responsibilities given his athleticism and experience, but sticking him on more agile receivers will be a tough ask. That might limit his opportunities at the next level. But teams that are looking for someone to fill more of the downhill role will live with that, given how well he plays when flowing towards the line of scrimmage.
Comparison: From time to time I employ fictional comparisons. We compared Isaiah Simmons to superheros, and when breaking down quarterback I compared Cole McDonald to “Maverick” from Top Gun. Brooks reminds me of Alvin Mack from The Program. A downhill, throwback kind of linebacker with experience and explosiveness when attacking the line of scrimmage.