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Recruiting: 2021 RB Jonathon Brooks chooses the Longhorns

by:Bridgeland0730•05/15/20
Jonathon Brooks
Jonathon Brooks (Courtesy of the Victoria Advocate/Emree Weaver)

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Texas wants to add two running backs to its 2021 class. One down, one to go.

Hallettsville’s Jonathon Brooks committed to Texas on Friday, choosing the Longhorns over Texas Tech.

“The coaches are great,” said Brooks. “It’s close to home. The facilities are nice and overall, it’s just a great school.”

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Hallettsville (6’0”, 185 lbs) 2021
Hudl/highlights

How he fits at Texas: Brooks is a power back in the mold of Keaontay Ingram or Roschon Johnson. He has exceptional change of direction and short area quickness that he uses to manipulate defenders in order to help create creases and windows in the narrow spaces between the tackles. He has some size and power to him to blast through those holes. Brooks can also hit the edge and plant and go like a wide zone RB. He can flex out and run some routes and catch the ball. Essentially, he’s a perfect fit for being a volume back in the inside zone scheme that can flex out and execute the 11 personnel spread sets as well. – Ian Boyd

Coach says: Strengths – Has great height and frame for the RB position. Could easily put on 20 lbs with that frame. A slashing runner with excellent vision, very good balance and short-area quickness. Efficient running motion with great change of direction. Good first step and acceleration. Finds the holes easily and presses them consistently. Processes the game quickly and sets up his blockers very well. Makes the first man miss consistently and is particularly elusive even in congested areas. Picks up his feet through the trash. Accelerates and decelerates effectively. Keeps moving on contact and will finish runs. Soft hands out of the backfield and judges the ball well. Generally good ball carriage. Shows ability on special teams and even has a punt in his highlights. On defense, the film is limited but he appears to be aggressive around the line of scrimmage. A very versatile player (over 500 yds receiving last season) who carried his team into the playoffs scoring 5 TDs and running for 241 yards in the first round. He followed that up with 319 yds and 4 TD the following week. We’re in on him early so that’s a plus.

Areas for improvement / Concern – Doesn’t show consistent or sustained long speed in pads despite a track background. Will try to bounce the play outside a bit often and could see him getting contained in the college game if he relies on that too much. Would like to see him work on lower body explosiveness. Will run high at times which I can envision leading to him getting squared up in college if he’s not careful. Not much pass protection on tape and it’s unpolished. Route running repertoire appears limited at this time.

Brooks is the tenth member of Texas 2021 class joining Morice Blackwell (Arlington Martin), Jordon Thomas (Port Arthur Memorial), Landen King (Humble Atascocita), Ja’Tavion Sanders (Denton Ryan), Derrick Harris Jr. (New Caney), Billy Bowman Jr. (Denton Ryan), Juan Davis (Everman), Hayden Conner (Katy Taylor), Jalen Milroe (Katy Tompkins).

Photo courtesy The Victoria Advocate/Emree Weaver

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