“A lot of kids from down here can play at Miami, have the swag and stuff to play at Miami,” Brooks said. “But people from down south or even from Miami, they choose other schools for particular reasons, for family members, all that stuff. A lot of kids from Miami can play for the University of Miami. That’s one of coach Diaz’s standards, pulling a lot of Miami guys which is good because there’s a lot of talent down here.”
When it comes to his own progress, Brooks - who has five tackles and a sack on the season - said, “Before I played for UM I used to always see (the Cane linebackers on the field) and looked up to them, especially Shaq - he doesn’t even know it. I was in high school, would go to the game, watch the linebackers. Now that I’m finally playing behind them, it’s a great experience for me. I can take a lot (from them). They’re four-year starters, so they know everything.”
Next year, as strange as it sounds, Brooks will be one of the more experienced linebackers on the roster. That’s what happens when you have the top four linebacker/strikers graduating.
Asked if - because of that - he feels pressure to learn a lot and make tremendous progress by the end of the season, Brooks said, “Not really. Because I know I’ll reach that standard.”
He adds, “For next year I have to put on some more weight. As far as instincts about linebacker, I’m doing well. I have the speed, everything else, just have to put on about 20 more pounds.”
