‘Always been in my heart to be a football player,’ undrafted rookie British Brooks beats odds, past injury to make team

HOUSTON – British Brooks broke tackles, busting through contact for extra yards and a pair of touchdowns. He displayed versatility, lining up at fullback, knocking down a Los Angeles Rams heavyweight defensive tackle.

And the undrafted free agent from North Carolina left the Texans with a lasting impression as they made their decision on his status. Their resounding takeaway: Brooks belonged on the initial 53-man roster.

Brooks got the good news this week that he had earned a roster spot. It was a significant moment and a time for emotion as his telephone didn’t ring during the major roster cutdown.

For a former invited walk-on who overcame a torn knee ligament while playing for the Tar Heels and earned a scholarship, it was a milestone to learn that he had beat the odds to make the defending AFC South champions’ roster.

“I didn’t get a call, but I guess it was very stressful and then once I saw the roster, it was very emotional just because of my past,” Brooks said. “Not even dating back to college, but even before that since I was a little kid. Just remembering all the little things people say, or people do and act, or how they treat you. Just a very emotional day.”

“I just knew I’m going in here with an opportunity. Just be a dog like no matter what happens. If I did get cut, or if I got released or something like that then I know I put it all on the table and gave it my all. Just be a dog. Sometimes, the finesse has to go out the window and you just have to go get it and be a dog.”

How Brooks made the team is a story of physicality and production as the 5-foot-11, 225-pounder rushed for 49 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries this preseason. The 5-foot-11, 225-pound bruising running back has also lined up at fullback.

Signed to a three-year, $2.845 million contact that included a $15,000 signing bonus with $240,000 guaranteed, Brooks was the only undrafted free agent to make the initial 53-man roster.

“It’s a thorough evaluation,” Ryans said. “I know to everyone else it seems like, ‘Oh, he just made the team,’ but we’ve been evaluating our guys since rookie minicamp, since he first came in and British has done a great job since he hit the grass. He’s been on it. He’s been detailed in his approach and he’s been locked in. So, that’s a culmination. It’s not just British making a block versus the Rams and he makes the team. That’s not the case is what he’s done over his entire time of being here, how he studies, how he prepares, his toughness, his dedication to the work. That’s why he deserved to make the team. British is an example of what this league is about. It doesn’t matter where you’re drafted, it doesn’t matter where you come from. If you can help our team in any way, you’ll earn a spot and that’s what he did, he earned a spot. Nothing was handed to him and that’s what the league is about.

“It’s about guys competing and earning spots for our roster and that’s the example that British set forth. A lot of guys in this league have made it as undrafted free agents, so it’s a credit to him and the work that he’s put in. Happy for British, for him making our initial roster here. One thing about British, the kid is tough, he’s reliable, he’s smart and that goes a long way in this league. That plays anywhere and he’s shown that. He can be dependable and he’s competed and he’s deserved the right to be on our team, so excited for him and his growth and his development this year.”

When Brooks was playing for Tar Heels coach Mack Brown, he overcame adversity.

Two years ago, Brooks was dealing with a shredded knee.

He thought about not playing football anymore.

It was a frustrating and sad time.

Ultimately, though, he informed North Carolina coach Mack Brown, whom he has a close relationship with, that he wanted to resume his career.

“It was like dark times for me, so there was a point when I didn’t want to play football no more,” Brooks said. “I didn’t want to see a football, I didn’t want to touch a football, I didn’t want to talk about football and then out of nowhere, I wake up and call my cousin and he trains me for the Pro day. I told my high school kids, a coach shouldn’t ask you if you love football. He should be able to see that you love football. I think that’s one thing that the people around me don’t have to ask if I love football. It’s always been in my heart to be a football player.”

And, now, Brooks is a full-fledged Texan after Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio decided to keep him on the roster after mentoring from running backs coach Danny Barrett.

“Just very appreciative to be a part of the team, first and foremost, being very appreciative of Nick and coach DeMeco for giving me this opportunity,” Brooks said. “Really I’m down for wherever they need me at to be honest. I don’t care if I have to play center, O-line, you know wherever they need me at, they won’t here a no from me.”

In the Texans’ preseason finale, he played fullback and has played special teams. He scored a pair of touchdowns against the New York Giants. And Brooks made the squad as fullbacks Andrew Beck, Troy Hairston and Nick Bawden were all released with Hairston signed to the practice squad and Beck now on the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad.

“Consistent, dependable, tough, good size, good playing strength, smart, can handle multiple roles, offensively and in a kicking game,” Caserio said. “So Britiish just shows up, doesn’t say much, and does his job, which the more people like that we have around here, the better for everybody. He’s earned his opportunity. He’s earned his way on to the team. We’ll see if he is able to stay on the team, but he’s here for a reason. Credit to him. Credit to ‘DB’ [Barrett] and the work that everybody has put in with him.”

Brooks was saluted by Brown on social media after making the team as his former coach wrote: ‘Congratulations to British Brooks on making the Texans roster. From walk-on to scholarship to the NFL. Couldn’t happen to a better person. We’re so proud of you British.”

The decision to join the Tar Heels after being overlooked coming out of Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, N.C. set Brooks on a path to make it to the NFL. It was a circuitous path, but he made it to the league.

In the Texans’ preseason finale, he played fullback and has played special teams. He scored a pair of touchdowns against the New York Giants. And Brooks made the squad as fullbacks Andrew Beck, Troy Hairston and Nick Bawden were all released with Hairston signed to the practice squad and Beck now on the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad.

“Consistent, dependable, tough, good size, good playing strength, smart, can handle multiple roles, offensively and in a kicking game,” Caserio said. “So Britiish just shows up, doesn’t say much, and does his job, which the more people like that we have around here, the better for everybody. He’s earned his opportunity. He’s earned his way on to the team. We’ll see if he is able to stay on the team, but he’s here for a reason. Credit to him. Credit to ‘DB’ [Barrett] and the work that everybody has put in with him.”

Brooks was saluted by Brown on social media after making the team as his former coach wrote: ‘Congratulations to British Brooks on making the Texans roster. From walk-on to scholarship to the NFL. Couldn’t happen to a better person. We’re so proud of you British.”

The decision to join the Tar Heels after being overlooked coming out of Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, N.C. set Brooks on a path to make it to the NFL. It was a circuitous path, but he made it to the league.

“When I walked on at Carolina, it was another dark time for me because I wasn’t being heavily recruited and I felt like I should’ve been,” Brooks said. “To walk on at Carolina, I was just going to go do the four years, do school and whatever but then I met Javonte Williams, Mike Carter, Antonio Williams and them guys really showed me what competition is about. I think that’s why I really fell in love with it and that’s where I found my second love for the game.

“The first love is God giving me the ability to compete and fall in love with this game and that second love was being around people that wanted to compete and wanted to see me grow. Then as I got here, it was the same thing like I knew I was going to go hard, but once I saw people in the running back room and I seen how Jalen Pitre works and I seen how a lot of these dudes work, I just needed to up my game a little bit so I knew I really had to give my all every day.”

From his big pet bulldog Athena to Brown, Brooks didn’t do it alone. He had support.

“He really feels like a family member,” Brooks said. “Like I can call him my second grandpa. Me and him are like close. People used to joke around at UNC and say that I was his favorite because when I got hurt, he gave me the golf cart, he always tried to baby me, take me everywhere he went like PJs [private Jets] and stuff. Mack is my dog for real. We tell each other I love you. I called him for his birthday. That’s one coach that I feel really believed in me and that’s another reason I didn’t want to leave and I didn’t want to transfer. Mack Brown is really special.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2housotn.com