In line with our sequence of prospects the Dallas Cowboys may goal in subsequent month’s NFL draft, we have a look at Texas Longhorns working again Jonathon Brooks. Brooks is a really younger prospect who is simply 20 years previous and has loads of tread left on his tires. Buried behind a gifted secure of Texas runners that included Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson, Brooks broke out in 2023, working for 1,139 yards and a 6.1 yards per carry common.
Brooks’ season ended prematurely after a torn ACL towards TCU in November final yr. Nonetheless, Brooks has said that his restoration has gone nicely and expects to be able to return to the sector by the beginning of coaching camp. Many retailers hyperlink Brooks to the Cowboys, however right here’s what the movie says about Brooks’ skills.
Jonathan Brooks
RB – Texas LonghornsRS Sophomore6 ft – 216 lbs.
Brooks’ working type is extra of a finesse runner than a bruiser. He can simply run via arm tackles, organising defenders for sudden lateral cuts, which isn’t shocking given his stature at 6’1, 216 lbs. Brooks shows some physicality with leg-drive via contact towards one or a number of defenders to combat for additional yards. Total, he’s an excellent runner who reads blocks nicely searching for cutback lanes, as evidenced by his lengthy landing run towards TCU in 2023.
When it comes to explosiveness, Brooks has good short-area burst however lacks the constant lengthy pace to frequently outrun a protection. As a receiver, Brooks makes good catches with passes away from his physique, routinely making the primary man miss in house. Texas didn’t ask him to run a various route tree and infrequently focused on check-downs, passes within the flat, and the occasional display screen. He has very comfortable palms and will have untapped potential as a receiver out of the backfield.
There’s some concern about Brooks as a go protector. Steadily, he makes use of a shoulder to hit a defender reasonably than taking the oncoming rusher with a squared body. Even popping out of the backfield, he misses the chip block on the sting rusher greater than you wish to see. Conversely, he understands the place the free rusher comes from and can attempt to choose up the project.
Analyzing Brooks, the endurance he runs with, and the lateral motion reminds considerably of Le’Veon Bell in that there’s an easy glide to his movement with the ball in his palms. With regards to the Cowboys, they’re virtually locked in to having a working back-by-committee strategy. The group re-signed Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn continues to be within the combine in some capability.
Including Brooks provides the Cowboys an intriguing prospect they’ll slowly develop within the interim who may develop right into a starter down the road. Brooks at choose 56 feels too wealthy for the Cowboys, however don’t anticipate Brooks to be out there by the Cowboy’s third-round choose. All of it depends upon how badly the Cowboys wish to maintain the Texas runner within the state.
