Reggie Brooks
Encyclopedia
Reginald Arthur Brooks is a former American football
running back
in the National Football League
. He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
in 1989. Originally a defensive back, he converted to tailback for the 1991 season and won a spot in the starting lineup for 1992. During his senior season at Notre Dame, Brooks enjoyed massive success, rushing for 1,372 yards with an 8.0 yards per carry average while scoring 13 touchdowns. He was named an All-America
n and finish fifth in Heisman Trophy voting that year.
by the Washington Redskins
in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft
. Brooks had a great rookie
season with 1,063 rushing yards with a 4.8 average. The rest of his career didn't pan out and he was out of football by the end of the 1996 NFL season
. He spent three years with the Redskins and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
run against rival University of Michigan
in 1992. After catching a pitched ball on an option-right, Brooks broke six Wolverines tackles, the last of which knocked him unconscious before stumbling across the goal-line and collapsing face-first in the endzone.
led the Irish on an 64-yard scoring drive, throwing to fullback Jerome Bettis
on fourth down for a 3-yard score. Down by one point, Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz
opted to go for two points and the win. Mirer dropped back to pass and was forced out of the pocket by the Penn State defense. Brooks, who had lined up as a slot receiver, worked across the field as the two primary receivers on the play were covered. Despite the fact that Brooks only had one reception all season, Mirer lofted the ball towards him in the back corner of the endzone. Brooks made a diving catch and the Irish prevailed 17-16.
He was the winner of the 1995 and 1996 Madden Bowl.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
College
Brooks, following his older brother Tony, attended the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1989. Originally a defensive back, he converted to tailback for the 1991 season and won a spot in the starting lineup for 1992. During his senior season at Notre Dame, Brooks enjoyed massive success, rushing for 1,372 yards with an 8.0 yards per carry average while scoring 13 touchdowns. He was named an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n and finish fifth in Heisman Trophy voting that year.
Professional
He was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft
1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
. Brooks had a great rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season with 1,063 rushing yards with a 4.8 average. The rest of his career didn't pan out and he was out of football by the end of the 1996 NFL season
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
. He spent three years with the Redskins and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
Post-football career
Brooks is employed by Notre Dame as its manager of monogram/football alumni relations. He is married and has five children.The Unconscious Touchdown
He is well known for a 20-yard touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
run against rival University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1992. After catching a pitched ball on an option-right, Brooks broke six Wolverines tackles, the last of which knocked him unconscious before stumbling across the goal-line and collapsing face-first in the endzone.
The Snow Bowl
The Fighting Irish went up against Penn State University in the final home game of 1992. A heavy snowfall throughout the first half made for a highly defensive struggle between the two perennial powerhouse programs. Trailing 16-9 with 4:25 left in the fourth quarter, senior quarterback Rick MirerRick Mirer
Richard Franklin Mirer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. After a successful collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame, Mirer was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the second pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. Mirer was traded to the Chicago Bears during...
led the Irish on an 64-yard scoring drive, throwing to fullback Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Abram "The Bus" Bettis is a retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is considered one of the best big backs ever because his footwork and power, and is currently fifth on the National Football League's all-time...
on fourth down for a 3-yard score. Down by one point, Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
opted to go for two points and the win. Mirer dropped back to pass and was forced out of the pocket by the Penn State defense. Brooks, who had lined up as a slot receiver, worked across the field as the two primary receivers on the play were covered. Despite the fact that Brooks only had one reception all season, Mirer lofted the ball towards him in the back corner of the endzone. Brooks made a diving catch and the Irish prevailed 17-16.
He was the winner of the 1995 and 1996 Madden Bowl.