From the Daily Oklahoman...
It's Brooks' time to shine for Tulsa Union
by Ed Godfrey
Shamari Brooks is chomping at the bit for this football season to begin.
After two years playing in the shadow of former Tulsa Union running back Tyler Adkins, Brooks will be the man in the backfield for the Redskins this season.
“I have been waiting a long, long time,” Brooks said. “It's finally, like, my shot. I look forward to it. For a couple of years I watched Tyler carry the load for the Redskins. I want to have the same impact.”
Brooks is the No. 26 player on The Oklahoman's list of the top 30 high school football recruits in the state.
He is more than eager to become the starting tailback for the Redskins this season, but it's not like he's never stepped on the field for high school power Tulsa Union.
He started at outside linebacker last season where he recorded 93 tackles and five sacks.
With Adkins soon to don a uniform for the Pittsburg State Gorillas, Brooks' primary duties will be on offense this fall.
“He will probably carry the ball 200 times this year, so you would expect him to definitely be an impact player,” Tulsa Union coach Kirk Fridrich said. “This year at tailback he is going to make a lot of plays for us.”
But Fridrich said it doesn't really matter what position Brooks plays. He's going to play well.
“The first thing that stands out with Shamari is that he is a football player,” he said. “You don't attach a position name to him. He just loves to play the game.”
Even though he was a back-up running back last season, Brooks still carried the ball 82 times for 572 yards and six touchdowns.
He impressed the coaches at the University of Tulsa enough to offer him a scholarship at running back, and Brooks is committed to the Golden Hurricane.
“Coach (Phil) Montgomery, he's got something special cooking up there and I just want to be a part of it,” Brooks said of his decision to stay home and play for the Golden Hurricane.
Brooks is 5-9, 185 pounds and a powerful runner who is not easily tackled. Fridrich said Brooks reminds him of former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, who will be a rookie for the Dallas Cowboys this season.
“He runs just like him,” Fridrich said.
Brooks calls Elliott the football player he tries to emulate.
“I try to model my game after him,” Brooks said. “That is actually who I look up to. We kind of got the same size and running style. He doesn't get tackled by one guy. He is a strong guy.”
It's Brooks' time to shine for Tulsa Union
by Ed Godfrey
Shamari Brooks is chomping at the bit for this football season to begin.
After two years playing in the shadow of former Tulsa Union running back Tyler Adkins, Brooks will be the man in the backfield for the Redskins this season.
“I have been waiting a long, long time,” Brooks said. “It's finally, like, my shot. I look forward to it. For a couple of years I watched Tyler carry the load for the Redskins. I want to have the same impact.”
Brooks is the No. 26 player on The Oklahoman's list of the top 30 high school football recruits in the state.
He is more than eager to become the starting tailback for the Redskins this season, but it's not like he's never stepped on the field for high school power Tulsa Union.
He started at outside linebacker last season where he recorded 93 tackles and five sacks.
With Adkins soon to don a uniform for the Pittsburg State Gorillas, Brooks' primary duties will be on offense this fall.
“He will probably carry the ball 200 times this year, so you would expect him to definitely be an impact player,” Tulsa Union coach Kirk Fridrich said. “This year at tailback he is going to make a lot of plays for us.”
But Fridrich said it doesn't really matter what position Brooks plays. He's going to play well.
“The first thing that stands out with Shamari is that he is a football player,” he said. “You don't attach a position name to him. He just loves to play the game.”
Even though he was a back-up running back last season, Brooks still carried the ball 82 times for 572 yards and six touchdowns.
He impressed the coaches at the University of Tulsa enough to offer him a scholarship at running back, and Brooks is committed to the Golden Hurricane.
“Coach (Phil) Montgomery, he's got something special cooking up there and I just want to be a part of it,” Brooks said of his decision to stay home and play for the Golden Hurricane.
Brooks is 5-9, 185 pounds and a powerful runner who is not easily tackled. Fridrich said Brooks reminds him of former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, who will be a rookie for the Dallas Cowboys this season.
“He runs just like him,” Fridrich said.
Brooks calls Elliott the football player he tries to emulate.
“I try to model my game after him,” Brooks said. “That is actually who I look up to. We kind of got the same size and running style. He doesn't get tackled by one guy. He is a strong guy.”
