BOWLING GREEN — The cold northwest Ohio weather may have impacted Karl Brooks, but the pressure on arguably the most important day of the former Bowling Green State University star’s football career so far certainly didn’t.
Despite battling an illness, Brooks put up a strong performance during BGSU’s pro day in front of representatives from nearly every NFL team Monday morning at Perry Field House.
Nerves weren’t an issue for the defensive lineman, who has a solid chance at being BGSU’s first NFL defensive draft pick in 10 years.
“Definitely not,” Brooks said in a nasally voice with media members after he finished his pro day. “This is home for me, where I was home for the last five years of my life. Very comfortable here, comfortable with the coaching staff, with our trainers, with this field of course, so I was just really comfortable out here performing my drills. I felt right at home, and I was just comfortable all day.”
Brooks was among 10 former Falcons who were under the watchful eyes of scouts from 28 NFL teams. The players took part in different position-specific drills, as well as events such as the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps, and different shuttles.
The results for Brooks: 5.06 seconds in the 40, 26.5 inches on the vertical jump, 28 bench-press reps, 8-9 on the broad jump, 4.85 seconds in the shuttle, and 7.63 seconds in the 3-cone drill.
Current BGSU players and families of the pro day participants were in attendance, as well.
“I’m super excited, it’s totally different. Our first one here, there were about a quarter of the people that are here now,” BGSU coach Scot Loeffler said. “So obviously we’re doing something right whenever you have almost every single NFL team here.
“Bunch of really good players that I thought really performed well today.”
For Brooks, who didn’t get an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine after a big week at the Senior Bowl, Monday morning was an important step in his football journey.
After training in Florida from shortly after BGSU’s Quick Lane Bowl loss vs. New Mexico State on Dec. 26 to a little over one week ago, Brooks recently made his way back to Bowling Green. The frigid temperatures over the past few days didn’t help his cause — “It definitely impacted me a lot just going from 90 degrees back to 20 degrees, definitely took a toll on my body,” he said — but he was happy with his performance overall.
“I feel like today was just a great showing,” Brooks said. “I was fortunate enough to compete and put up some good numbers, which I’m happy about and proud of. So I’m very excited about the outcome.”
Brooks checked in at 6-foot-3 and 296 pounds — a little bit less than the goal of 300 pounds due to his illness — with 31½-inch arms, 9 1/8-inch hand, and a 77-inch wingspan.
“I felt bad for him, he was sick today, which that wasn’t as planned. Obviously, we want him as healthy as he could possibly be,” Loeffler said. “But he did well. He did really well considering the situation.
“But all you’ve got to do is turn on his tape and watch him play, watch his Senior Bowl. He’s a good football player, and he’ll get drafted, and he’ll play a long time at that next level.”
During the Senior Bowl on Feb. 4, Brooks sacked Heisman Trophy finalist and former Texas Christian quarterback Max Duggan.
He regularly put up highlight after highlight during practices leading up to the game, drawing praise from college football and NFL draft analysts.
Brooks, who was ranked No. 56 in the latest Pro Football Focus Big Board for the 2023 NFL draft, was the highest-graded edge defender in the FBS during the 2022 season, according to PFF. His 10 sacks last season and 27½ for his career both rank third in BGSU history in the respective categories.
“He did great,” said former BGSU quarterback Matt McDonald, who also performed well during the pro day. “It was great having him, because there were a lot more scouts to see him. ... But I’m really proud of everybody, everybody worked really hard and everybody came out and did really well today.”
The NFL draft will take place from April 27 to 29. Brooks will be busy continuing to train, as well as going to top-30 visits with several teams.
What is Brooks’ biggest sales pitch to NFL teams as he continues to get ready for the next level?
“They’re getting somebody that can play not just defensive tackle, but a guy that can play any position on the defensive line. They bring versatility, a guy that’s willing to go out and compete and want to win games,” he said. “That’s what I feel like the NFL teams are getting with me.”
First Published March 20, 2023, 9:13 p.m.
