Tag: Greg Brooks Jr.

Five reasons for optimism as the Brian Kelly era begins at LSU

There are plenty of reasons to believe the rough stretch of football in Baton Rouge is coming to an end.

The last two years haven’t been kind to the LSU faithful.

2019 brought the highest of highs only for the following seasons to bring the lowest of lows. We’ve seen a pandemic swallow up a season, [autotag]Ed Orgeron[/autotag] get fired, and some of LSU’s best players transfer or opt out.

With all the negativity surrounding the program during the previous two campaigns, I thought it was time for some optimism. The season is now just a couple of weeks away. It’s a new day in Baton Rouge.

With a new season comes opportunity. LSU has a chance to exorcise some of these demons and get back to the brand of football that we’re accustomed to.

We’ll look at five reasons Tigers fans can have some optimism as the season fast approaches.

Hogs-turned-Tigers excelling at LSU after leaving Arkansas

Greg Brooks Jr. and Joe Foucha started in the Arkansas secondary last year before transferring to LSU.

First-year LSU coach Brian Kelly may be new to the Tigers and the SEC, but the former Notre Dame head man knows talent when he sees it.

Kelly was up at SEC Media Days on Monday and had praise for a pair of former Arkansas players in particular. Greg Brooks Jr. and Joe Foucha started at safety and nickel for the Hogs last year before transferring to LSU. They’re both Louisiana natives.

“They have been outstanding additions to our program,” Kelly said. “I know many don’t like to see (transfers) happen within the league. I’m not crazy about it either.”

It’s the sort of transfer that used to be taboo. Now, in the age of the portal, it’s much more common. Arkansas started two defensive lineman from Missouri last year in Markell Utsey and Tre Williams.

The Razorbacks and Tigers meet in 2022 on November 12 in Fayetteville.

Former Arkansas nickel back Greg Brooks Jr. to LSU, too

Arkansas nickel back Greg Brooks Jr. announced his transfer portal destination as LSU in an expected move Thursday

The Battle for the Golden Boot should be fun in 2022.

After Arkansas and LSU played to a Razorbacks overtime victory during the 2021 season and Hogs safety Joe Foucha entered the transfer portal after the season to head for Baton Rouge, Arkansas lost another player to the Bayou on Thursday.

Former Hogs starting nickel back Greg Brooks Jr. announced his transfer destination as LSU around dinnertime.

The move was not a surprise as Brooks is a Louisiana native. It was speculated when he and Foucha entered the portal on back-to-back days that they would head south together.

Brooks was a three-year starter covering defenders in the slot for the Hogs. In 2021, he had 48 tackles, including 2 1/2 for-loss, with four pass break-ups, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Arkansas and LSU will play Saturday, November 12 in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

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Arkansas nickel back, three-year starter, Greg Brooks Jr. enters transfer portal

Arkansas loses another secondary starter, Greg Brooks Jr., to transfer portal

Arkansas football went from potentially returning all five starters in its defensive backfield in 2022 to returning two.

Three-year starting nickel back Greg Brooks Jr. entered the transfer on Thursday. A day earlier Arkansas lost safety Joe Foucha to the portal, as well.

“I’ve made countless memories at the University of Arkansas and they will never be forgotten,” Brooks tweeted. “With that being said, my family and I think that the best decision for me is to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left.”

Brooks is the fifth defensive back to enter the portal in the offseason, following Foucha, Nick Turner, Devin Bush and Jermain Hamilton-Jordan. Cornerback Montaric Brown, a second-team All-SEC pick after leading the league with five interceptions, declared for the NFL draft earlier this month.

Arkansas will return All-American safety Jalen Catalon and cornerback LaDarrius Bishop among its five usual secondary starters in 2022.

Brooks became the 11th non-senior to enter the transfer portal since November and 13th overall.