Everything Ja'Corey Brooks said ahead of Alabama's fourth fall practice

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks is now entering his second season in Tuscaloosa. That means the former five-star talent isn’t restricted as far as his media availability, which is why he was able to speak with reporters on Monday.

Below, we’ve included everything Brooks said during that press conference.

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On what he learned from the experience down the stretch last year…

“Really, just everything. Just learning from the older guys that was here before me, watching their work ethic and how they go about practice and everything. I just took everything they did and implemented it in my game.” 

On what advice he gets from Jameson Williams, John Metchie…

“As I was going through practices with those guys, I think John Metchie and Jamo and Slade (Bolden), I was just watching those guys practice every day and how they go about practice. They used to compete every day, and I just take that in from them. I want to learn the offensive playbook and what to do as I see the defense.”

On his Iron Bowl touchdown catch…

“Honestly, I’m from Florida, so I didn’t know like how big the Iron Bowl was. So I just went out there and took it play by play. But after I got to the sideline, Jamo told me it was a great catch. During that play, I was just executing and doing my job.”

On if he was upset Alabama added transfer wide receivers…

“It was kinda motivating, but as a group, we have a standard in the receiver room that the guys that were here before, the standard they set. So the new guys who came in, we try to build them up and raise them to the standard that was here before.”

On what he’s seen from Alabama teammate Jalen Milroe…

“He’s a great quarterback, and he’s a great roommate also because he’s my roommate. I practice with him everyday, and he’s he’s getting better. We’re all getting better at the same time.”

On how much special teams he played in high school and was there a learning curve…

“In high school, I pretty much played everything on the field, so I tried to come here and do whatever I can for the team. It’s whatever I can get on the field and play, that’s what I try to do and go hard at it.”

On the versatility of Alabama’s WR group and if he has a preference on where he lines up…

“Nah, it doesn’t matter. You can put me anywhere. The guys who are here with me, I feel you can put those guys anywhere. We’re all just going to come out, work and compete.”

On how his chemistry with Alabama QB Bryce Young has improved…

“I feel like it’s improved a lot. We still have more room for improvement, but we’re still getting better this offseason, and we’re taking it day by day.”

On how he helps Alabama’s transfers…

“We all pretty much help each other. Some things I might not know, there’s some things they might catch. They tell me, and I tell them some things, some gems that I learned from, once again, John and Jamo before. I try to tell them guys how we work together as a wide receiver group.” 

On what went through his head with the over-the-shoulder catch in the Iron Bowl…

“In practice, Coach Wiggs (Holmon Wiggins) tells us to get on the JUGS machine most of the times a day, so it’s really repetition. I just kept practicing that throughout the week.”

On how taking on a bigger role is helping him this year…

“It helped me as a player a lot more because I have grown older. I’m still missing certain things, so I just try to take in what I can take in day by day just trying to learn it slow.”

On Alabama’s cornerbacks making the wide receivers better…

“They’re great DBs. We go against them. We fight in practice everyday, we compete everyday so they make our whole wide receiver room better and they bring their all in practice and we bring our all and it’s a whole lot of competition.”

On the moment things clicked for him…

“Really from the beginning since I stepped foot in the building you know I was trying to become a leader and trying to get my name known and just become the guy that I am or become the guy that I want to be.”

On any jugg machine competition amongst the Alabama receivers…

“It’s just getting extra work there’s not really too much competition but we can spice it up as competition.”

On the Iron Bowl catch…

“Pretty much what everybody sees. They always say ‘That was a great catch in the Iron Bowl’ so I’m guessing, its like that big. I’m still like shocked about it but not really. I’m really looking forward to this year and how this game’s going to go.”

On if anyone gives him a hard time about being called “Jacoby” during the Iron Bowl broadcast…

“Probably my folks back home, but it wasn’t no big deal. Everybody makes mistakes on my name, so.”