Jonathon Brooks selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers
For the second consecutive year, the first running back taken off the board in the NFL draft is a Texas Longhorn. Jonathon Brooks was taken with the 46th overall pick in the 2nd round by the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday night. Brooks joins Bijan Robinson in the company of backs taken off the board first during the Steve Sarkisian era.
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Brooks started eight games with 11 appearances in 2023, rushing for 1139 yards on 187 carries with 10 touchdowns before tearing his right ACL in the Longhorns’ matchup with TCU (his 11th appearance came when he suited up for victory formation snaps in the Big 12 Championship versus Oklahoma state). Brooks recorded 100-yard games against Wyoming, Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, and TCU. He tallied a 99-yard game against Houston and a 98-yard game against BYU.
Brooks rushed for 218 yards and two scores against Kansas.
During the 2022 season, Brooks hit the century mark for the first time in his career when he rushed 11 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns at Kansas.
Brooks finished his career with 238 rushes for 1479 yards and 16 touchdowns. He added 28 catches for 335 yards and two touchdowns for 18 total career touchdowns.
Since the turn of the century, Cedric Benson in the 2005 draft, Jamaal Charles in the 2008 draft, Chris Ogbannaya in the 2009 draft, D’Onta Foreman in the 2017 draft, Robinson in the 2023 draft, and Roshon Johnson in the 2023 draft encompass the Longhorn running backs taken in the NFL draft.
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Sarkisian continues his run of running backs picked in the draft under his tutelage as head coach or primary play-caller along with Robinson, Johnson, Chauncey Washington, Najee Harris, Bishop Sankey, and Javorius Allen.
Brooks joins Byron Murphy, Xavier Worthy, and T’Vondre Sweat as Longhorn selections in the 2024 NFL draft.
