Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks has decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2024 NFL Draft, as reported by 247Sports.
Brooks, who emerged as the Longhorns’ primary running back before suffering a season-ending ACL tear, is making the leap to the professional ranks.
Initially considered a modest recruit among a group of blue-chip prospects, Brooks faced competition from freshman C.J. Baxter during the starting running back battle. However, as the nonconference season progressed, the redshirt sophomore successfully secured the starting position.
In just 10 games, Brooks showcased his talent, leading Texas with an impressive 1,139 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, along with an additional 286 receiving yards. His consistency was evident with eight consecutive games of at least 98 rushing yards, highlighted by a standout performance against Kansas where he rushed for 218 yards and scored two touchdowns. CBS Sports recognized his achievements by naming him a Midseason All-American.
Unfortunately, Brooks suffered an ACL injury during Texas’ victory over TCU, sidelining him for the final four games of the season. Despite this setback, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian included Brooks for a symbolic snap in the Big 12 Championship Game, underlining his esteemed status within the team and hinting at the All-America consideration he was poised to receive.
Prior to his college career, Brooks earned recognition as Mr. Texas Football by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, an honor bestowed upon the top individual player in Texas high school football. His exceptional senior year at Hallettsville High School, where he rushed for 3,530 yards and scored 62 touchdowns, culminated in the school’s first-ever appearance in the state championship game.
Jonathon Brooks’ relatively brief college career catapulted him into the spotlight as a top running back prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. While he is currently ranked as the 97th overall player, he stands out as the third-best running back in the CBS Sports NFL Draft Prospect Rankings. Measuring at 6 feet and weighing 207 pounds, Brooks possesses the size and field vision necessary for success at the professional level.
One of the appealing aspects of Brooks’ draft stock is his relatively low usage during his college career, having carried the ball only 238 times. Despite this limited sample size, he averaged an impressive 6.2 yards per carry and scored a touchdown every 14.9 carries, surpassing the touchdown-per-carry average of former Longhorns superstar Bijan Robinson. Additionally, even with the injury-related absence of four games, Brooks managed to rank 17th among running backs in receiving yards, showcasing his versatility, a coveted trait for running backs in the modern NFL.
While Jonathon Brooks’ departure is a significant loss for Texas, it provides an opportunity for the Longhorns to look towards the future. C.J. Baxter is set to step into the starting role after an impressive debut season, rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries. Against Washington, he demonstrated his potential with 64 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries. Jaydon Blue also contributed 398 yards in relief.
Furthermore, Texas has a wealth of underclassmen who are eager to make their mark, with Savion Red and Tre Wisner showing promise. The addition of 4-star recruit Jerrick Gibson, ranked as the No. 2 running back in the Top247 rankings for the Class of 2024, adds even more depth to the Longhorns’ running back arsenal. As Texas moves forward, they appear to be in good hands despite the departure of Jonathon Brooks.
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