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Ellis Brooks NFL Draft Profile
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Ellis Brooks Scouting ReportEllis can attack the edge with speed and has the flexibility to dip low and under the tackle's reach. He is a work in progress as a pass rusher, with upfield burst and flexibility to dip and scrape. Plays fast, flows with the action, showing smooth lateral agility and short-area burst. Has good instincts and awareness to quickly find the ball. Brooks will stiff-arm linemen to stay free on some plays. Athletic enough to stay with running backs out of the backfield and knock receivers off crossing routes. He keeps feet moving after initial contact. Jumps inside as a counter to typical rush, but needs to show a larger variety of moves. He is an intelligent player who can play "MIKE" linebacker despite his lack of size because of his instincts and ability to find the ball in traffic. Has the combination of size and athleticism worthy of development. |
Areas for ImprovementInconsistent hustle. Only adequate change-of-direction ability. Also loses his balance too often in the open field. Lacks size to bull rush stronger tackles. He generally an effective openfield tackler but doesn't wrap up consistently. Shows only average awareness in coverage. He possesses below-average instincts for the linebacker position. Leaves more plays on the field than he makes. |
Ellis Brooks Career at Penn StateEllis as a true freshman, redshirted. As a redshirted freshman, he appeared in 13 games. One of 40 players to make their first Penn State appearance. Made 30 tackles (19 solo) to go along with 1.5 tackles for loss, a half-sack and an interception. Following that up in 2019, Ellis appeared in 13 games...Made 39 tackles (19 solo) with four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks (2nd among linebackers) and a fumble recovery. Was Tabbed to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week first team after the Maryland game (9/27). Made nine starts. One of 14 players to make their first career start. Led the team with 60 tackles (26 solo). Tallied 5.5 tackles for loss (4th on the team) with one sack and three quarterback hurries. Forced a team-best two fumbles. Added one pass breakup. Rankings: Finished 10th in the Big Ten with 60 tackles. |
Ellis Brooks NFL Draft Player ProfileThis pro-ready, athletic linebacker seized the starting job in 2021 NFL Draft prospect Micah Parsons’ absence and thrived. Ellis Brooks is a fluid, explosive and rangey off-ball linebacker who can impact the game in run and pass defense. The Penn State linebacker is capable in man and zone coverage and even has the movement skills to work downfield in Tampa Two. Brooks rarely bites on route salesmanship in man coverage and has the loose hips and clean transitions to stick with tight ends, running backs and even receivers. In zone coverage, he plays with sound spatial awareness and route recognition. Against the run, Brooks is excellent at evading blocks. He complements his change of direction and lateral burst with impressive hand usage to blow by linemen in the box. He has also proven capable of reducing blockable surface area on his way to the point of contact. What’s more, he has a knack for navigating traffic and tracking down the ball carrier. Further, Brooks is a safe tackler when he lands a shoulder pad on his target. He is especially efficient between the tackles. At the tackle point, he employs leverage to maximize his stopping power. |
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