BYU RB Christopher Brooks Elevates NFL Draft Stock At Hula Bowl
Jan 17, 2023, 1:01 PM | Updated: Jul 12, 2023, 1:25 pm
PROVO, Utah – Will Christopher Brooks be the latest BYU running back to carve out a career in the NFL? If his performance in the Hula Bowl is any indication, the grad transfer from Cal is well on his way.
Brooks accounted for 101 all-purpose yards to help Team Kai defeat Team Aina 16-13 at the 2023 Hula Bowl in Orlando.
If you are not on top of @BYUfootball RB @chris_br0oks26 after his performance in the @Hula_Bowl, you are missing out. Just look at that specimen. He's jacked and ready to run over anything in his path.@DraftDiamonds are found at the #HulaBowl pic.twitter.com/Gjqvy46xpk
— Draft Guy Jimmy (@draftguyjimmy) January 17, 2023
The former BYU ball carrier led all rushers with 84 rushing on 13 carries. That’s good for 6.5 yards per carry, which was better than his 6.28 yards per carry in his one season at BYU.
Brooks was the starting running back for a Team Kai squad that was coached by former Super Bowl Champion coach and BYU tight end Brian Billick.
Entering the Hula Bowl, there wasn’t much buzz about Brooks being a prospect being drafted in April’s NFL draft. However, it’s possible that Brooks elevated himself to a high-priority undrafted free agent or late-round prospect.
Christopher Brooks rushed for 84 yards at the Hula Bowl
The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler reported that the Washington Commanders have met with Brooks since the Hula Bowl concluded on Saturday.
The Commanders met with RB Christopher Brooks (BYU) at the Hula Bowl, per source.
A physical back at 6’0”, 232 pounds, Brooks was superb throughout the week and has a frame similar to that of Brian Robinson & Antonio Gibson.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) January 17, 2023
Since the conclusion of BYU’s season at the New Mexico Bowl last month, Brooks has been training with Luke Neal. Neal is a skill position specialist who has a long history working with former BYU great Jamaal Williams.
BYU is building a pipeline of running backs to the NFL
Speaking of Williams, it can’t hurt Brooks’ NFL draft chances when you look at the recent success of BYU running backs in the league. Jamaal Williams led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2022 with 17 for the Detroit Lions.
The man Brooks replaced at BYU, Tyler Allgeier, rushed for 1,035 yards for the Atlanta Falcons in his rookie season. Plus, there’s Ty’Son Williams, another graduate transfer from BYU, that finished the 2022 season with the Arizona Cardinals.
Brooks is an intriguing prospect. His one season at BYU produced the fourth-best yards per carry average in BYU football history in a single season. That was while navigating a nagging hamstring injury that limited his availability throughout the season.
Brooks finished his one season at BYU with 813 rushing yards, 98 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.
The 2023 NFL Draft takes place in Kansas City, Missouri, from April 27 to April 29. BYU will hold a Pro Day in late March.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU moving to the Big 12 Conference on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
