Antoine Brooks
refer to caption
Brooks with Maryland in 2018
Memphis Showboats
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1997-10-28) October 28, 1997
Lanham, Maryland, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:DuVal
(Lanham, Maryland)
College:Maryland (2016–2019)
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 6 / Pick: 198
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Total tackles:5
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Pass deflections:0
Interceptions:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Antoine Brooks Jr. (born October 28, 1997) is an American football safety for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Maryland and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Early years

Brooks grew up in Lanham, Maryland and attended DuVal High School.[1] He was a starting defensive back and quarterback for the Tigers. As a junior, he was named first-team All-Metro by The Washington Post and first-team All-State at defensive back.[2] Midway through his senior season Brooks suffered a compound fracture on his ankle and a broken wrist while throwing a pass against Wise High School, requiring five hours of surgery to repair and putting his football career in doubt.[3] He was still named second-team All-Metro, first-team All-State and the Prince George's County 4A Offensive Player of the Year despite missing half of the season.[4] Although he originally had over 15 scholarship offers, much of his recruiting interest faded after his injury and he initially committed to play college football at Buffalo. Brooks committed to play at Maryland a few days before National Signing Day after a late push from coach D. J. Durkin over offers from Pitt, Indiana, Hawaii, Buffalo, Army, Old Dominion and Charlotte.[5][6]

College career

Brooks played in six games, mostly on special teams, during his freshman season before being suspended for the rest of the season.[7] He became the Terrapins' primary nickel back as a sophomore and finished second on the team with 77 tackles and led all defensive backs in the Big Ten Conference with 9.5 tackles for loss along with one sack, two interceptions, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.[8][9][10] As a junior, Brooks was Maryland's third leading tackler with 68 and led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss with 2.5 sacks, three passes defended and an interception and was named second-team All-Big Ten by the league's coaches.[11][12] As a senior, Brooks played safety and nickel linebacker and lead the team with 87 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss, and interception and six passes defended and again named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and to the third-team by the media.[13][14]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBench press
5 ft 10+5⁄8 in
(1.79 m)		 220 lb
(100 kg)		 31+1⁄8 in
(0.79 m)		 9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		4.64 s1.61 s2.70 s34.5 in
(0.88 m)		18 reps
All values from NFL Combine[15][16]

Pittsburgh Steelers

Brooks was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 198th pick in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.[17] He was waived on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[18][19] He was elevated to the active roster on October 31, November 7, November 14, and November 30 for the team's weeks 8, 9, 10, and 12 games against the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, and Ravens, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[20][21][22][23][24] He was signed to the active roster on December 3.[25]

On August 24, 2021, Brooks was waived/injured and placed on injured reserve.[26] He was released on September 2, 2021.

Los Angeles Rams

On September 4, 2021, Brooks was signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 9, 2021.[27] He was waived on January 29, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad. Brooks won Super Bowl LVI when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.[28]

On February 15, 2022, Brooks signed a reserve/future contract with the Rams.[29] He was waived on May 4, 2022.

Seattle Sea Dragons

On November 17, 2022, Brooks was drafted by the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.[30] The Sea Dragons folded when the XFL and United States Football League merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[31]

Memphis Showboats

On January 15, 2024, Willis was selected by the Memphis Showboats in the UFL Super Draft.[32]

References

  1. ↑ "Maryland National Signing Day 2016: Antoine Brooks". Los Angeles Times. February 3, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ "2015 Maryland high school All-State football team". Capital Gazette. January 4, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  3. ↑ Smith, Scott (October 14, 2015). "Star Md. prep football player Antoine Brooks recovering after suffering serious injuries". Fox5DC.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ Giannotto, Mark (February 2, 2016). "Injured DuVal football star Antoine Brooks commits to Maryland after late offer". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ Connors, Ryan (August 18, 2016). "After a grisly injury, freshman Antoine Brooks is ready to contribute for Maryland football". TestudoTimes.com. SB Nation. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ Kirshner, Alex (February 1, 2016). "Antoine Brooks commits to Maryland: Terps land local linebacker". TestudoTimes.com. SB Nation. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Two Maryland football players charged in BB gun incident". NBC Sports Washington. November 16, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Halfway through season, Antoine Brooks Jr. has been a hit as Maryland's nickel back". The Baltimore Sun. October 20, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  9. ↑ Fitzgerald, Justin (July 29, 2019). "Antoine Brooks Jr. will lead Maryland football's defense at a new position". TestudoTimes.com. SB Nation. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  10. ↑ "For Antoine Brooks Jr., his family and the Terps, 'smiles, tears, joy, a lot of mixed emotions'". The Washington Post. September 7, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  11. ↑ "No quit in Maryland safety Antoine Brooks Jr. four years after suffering career-threatening injury". The Baltimore Sun. October 19, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  12. ↑ Fitzgerald, Justin (August 1, 2019). "Maryland's Brooks, McFarland named on player award watch lists". Montgomery County Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  13. ↑ Goul, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Antoine Brooks Jr., Maryland S: 2020 NFL Draft profile". Cleveland.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  14. ↑ Gilpin, Matthew (December 3, 2019). "Maryland football's Antoine Brooks and Javon Leake earn All-Big Ten honors". The Diamondback. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Antoine Brooks Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  16. ↑ "2020 Draft Scout Antoine Brooks Jr., Maryland NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  17. ↑ Varley, Teresa (April 25, 2020). "Steelers select Brooks Jr. in the sixth round". Steelers.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  18. ↑ Varley, Teresa (September 6, 2020). "Steelers make moves to get to 53-man roster". Steelers.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  19. ↑ Strackbein, Noah (September 6, 2020). "Steelers Sign McCullers, Brooks Jr., 12 Others to Practice Squad". SI.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  20. ↑ Varley, Teresa (October 31, 2020). "Roster moves continue for Steelers". Steelers.com. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  21. ↑ Koehler, Allison (November 10, 2020). "Rookie DB Antoine Brooks heads back to practice squad". Steelers Wire. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Steelers release veteran offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski". Post-Gazette.com. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Steelers make roster moves". www.steelers.com. November 14, 2020. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  24. ↑ Varley, Teresa (November 30, 2020). "Steelers make moves ahead of Ravens game". Steelers.com. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Steelers place Dupree on Reserve/Injured". Steelers.com. December 3, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Steelers reduce roster to 80". Steelers.com. August 24, 2021.
  27. ↑ DaSilva, Cameron (November 10, 2021). "Rams sign DB Antoine Brooks Jr. to roster, bring back Jonah Williams on practice squad". TheRamsWire. USA Today. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  28. ↑ Schwartz, Paul (February 13, 2021). "LA Rams defeat Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl 2022". nypost.com.
  29. ↑ Cothrel, Nicholas (February 15, 2022). "Rams Sign 12 Players to a Reserve/Future Contract". sportsillustrated.com.
  30. ↑ "Rosters for all eight XFL teams: Full draft results and where Vic Beasley, Martavis Bryant landed". ESPN.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  31. ↑ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  32. ↑ Rachuk, Stephan (January 15, 2024). "2024 United Football League (UFL) Super Draft Tracker". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
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