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Curtis Brooks NFL Draft Profile
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Curtis Brooks Scouting ReportCurtis Brooks is an excellent athlete who maximizes his tools with an advanced understanding of leverage. He uses his natural power and speed to power or bull rush moves. He has a high motor and excellent leg drive to finish pass rushes through blockers. He flashed a variety of different hand moves to capitolize on his outstanding movement skills. He displayed impressive change of direction ability with burst and lateral agility this season arguably leading to a career year at Cincinnati. He registered 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss while contributing 50 total tackles. As an interior rusher he was able to use heavy hands and leverage enhanced anchor to stack and shed regularly.
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Areas for ImprovementCurtis could stand to work on his hand technique. He could improve his handwork a little quicker, to disengage from his blocks. His initial pass rush move doesn't always win, can he work some counters into his game? He holds his own against single blocks but appears to be challenged and easily displaced when tasked with overcoming double teams.
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Curtis Brooks Career at CincinnatiCurtis Brooks was a second team selection to the All Region 4A West squad. He was second team honoree on the DRB All Metro Defensive Football Team. GoDanRiver.com called him one of the area's most terrorizing defensive linemen. His freshman season at Cincinnati he redshirted. Following year he played in all 12 games in the middle of the defensive line. He recorded 16 tackles. In his redshirt sophomore he played again in all 12 games, recorded 23 tackles. He totaled a pair of tackles or more in eight games. In 2019, he saw action in all 14 games earning a pair of starts. He was in the team's Top 10 with 40 tackles, 7.5 for loss. He had four QB hurries, two sacks and two pass break ups. He also had a fumble recovery. As a redshirt senior, he played in all 10 games during the AAC Championship campaign with four starts. He was a key part of a front line which helped the Bearcats lead the American in rushing, scoring, pass efficiency and total defense. UC featured an elite defense which ranked in the NCAA's Top 15 in five categories, including tied for No. 3 in both interceptions (16) and No. 3 tackles for a loss with 2.5 sacks. UC's front seven limited defenders to 3.1 yards per rush on the year. Forced his first career fumble at SMU. Tied his career high with five tackles at UCF. Had four tackles, a sack and QB hurry in the AAC Championship game against Tulsa. Earned his bachelor's degree and elected to return to Cincinnati in 2021 to use his extra year of eligibility. Graduate season 2021, breakout campaign for Curtis who totaled 50 total tackles. He had 12.5 tackles for loss along with a career high 7.5 sacks. He also contibuted with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. |
Curtis Brooks NFL Draft Player ProfileWhen he chose to return for his sixth season, did he expect to be playing in the College Football Playoff? “Definitely not,” the 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive tackle said. “Just wanted to come back, repeat as AAC champions and then go out and have a great year. This, right here, is special. Definitely special.” Brooks, a Danville, Virginia native, was on the ground floor before the Bearcats ascended into a team that crashed the College Football Playoff. He redshirted in 2016 during Tommy Tuberville’s final season, played the next four years and then opted to play one final season after players were granted an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic. This year was his best year, totaling 50 tackles. Also registering 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks help leading the Bearcats to an undefeated season. |
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