RB British Brooks: A ‘wonderful story’ and the ‘great leader’ UNC needs next season
British Brooks was rushing toward a Hollywood ending in North Carolina’s regular season finale, until N.C. State’s rally ruined his feel-good tale of growing from a walk-on, to scholarship, to a starring role.
That’s fine by Brooks because a sequel is in the works. Brooks will return next season, taking advantage of the NCAA eligibility waiver put in place last year while playing the 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNC head coach Mack Brown said Brooks was a “story for every young guy out there that’s overlooked.” Brown said when he announced the news of the running back’s return to the team next season the players gave Brooks a standing ovation.
“The room just went crazy,” Brown said. “Because they love British Brooks, and what a wonderful story. And I’ve never seen him happier than when I talked to him. He is so excited about the bowl game and moving forward.”
Brooks signed with the Tar Heels in April 2018 — a full two months after national signing day — out of Ashbrook High School. There was some confusion over Brooks’ status when former coach Larry Fedora said at the 2018 ACC Kickoff that he didn’t consider Brooks a recruited walk-on and that he was on scholarship.
Brooks had some non-athletic scholarships. Brown gave him on scholarship when one freed up in the spring of 2019, but he didn’t have one available in the fall of that year. Brooks didn’t permanently earn a scholarship until the spring of 2020.
The Tar Heels take on South Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30 in somewhat of a homecoming for Brooks, a Charlotte native. But like the locker room reacting to his decision, he doesn’t seek to be the center of attention.
“I don’t really like the spotlight where I just stand up in front everybody,” Brooks said. “But it felt good that my teammates really wanted me to come back for the next year.”
Brooks rushed for a combined 166 yards — 99 of which came last season — in the first three seasons of his career. He started in the Orange Bowl last season against Texas A&M when Michael Carter and Javonte Williams opted out to embark on their pro careers. Brooks had 15 carries for 53 yards, and he looked every bit of a reserve trying to fill the void left by NFL talent.
Through the greater part of four seasons, only those inside Carolina’s locker room fully appreciated what he meant to the team. Brooks was named the special teams Most Valuable Player and he served as the special teams captain in 2020.
“He wasn’t the most explosive guy going into last season or going into this season,” offensive coordinator Phil Longo said. “And he gets edged out by Carter and Williams and Ty Chandler and he just keeps grinding away and doing this job waiting for his turn.”
His turn came when D.J. Jones was injured this season and Brooks filled in as a backup to Chandler against Wofford. Brooks responded with 89 yards and two touchdowns — both career-highs — against the Terriers.
The N.C. State game was his moment. Brooks was more effective than Chandler against the Pack and he tied his career-high with 15 attempts. He shredded the Wolfpack for a new career-high 124 yards and in the process changed the outside perception of what he can be. But Brooks believed in himself all along because of his preparation.
“They called my number and I just stepped up, I just played how I am,” Brooks said.
It was the most yards by an individual that the Wolfpack, which ranked third in the ACC in rushing defense, allowed all season. Brooks gained more yards against the Pack than eight teams that it played.
Brooks ran like it was his last chance to play football. And, at the time, he did believe he was playing the last regular season game of his college career. He didn’t realize he could play an additional year until the coaching staff told him.
“British is an unbelievable player, he’s an unbelievable guy,” UNC quarterback Sam Howell said. “He worked so hard and he’s the best special teams guy we got. That’s just a credit of how much he puts into it. He loves the game and he just stays ready.”
Both Brown and Longo noted that after a recent practice, Brooks gathered the offense around him and was talking about work ethic. That’s something Longo said has largely been missing the past three seasons and it’s a big reason why they welcomed Brooks back.
“He can be a force in that running back room moving forward,” Brown said. “And, like Ty Chandler was the older guy that came in from Tennessee last year, I think British will be that guy. We need to do a better job of having a great leader in every unit and there’s no question British Brooks will be a great leader.”
Carolina is expecting to lose its two leading rushers from this season. Chandler will exhaust his eligibility and Howell is expected to turn pro. Of the returning backs, Brooks trailed Jones by just 30 yards — 253 to 223 yards — for third place in team rushing. Brooks had 34 fewer attempts.
The Heels will still largely be young at running back with incoming signees George Pettaway and Omarion Hampton expected to compete for a spot in the rotation. Brooks’ leadership and experience will be needed for the group as a whole, but so too could his production.
“Those last two games he had more of an opportunity and he took advantage of the opportunity,” Longo said. “...He is the epitome of the great American success story in college football.”
This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 5:00 AM.