Jalen Brooks is happy to be back
August 05, 2022
Jalen Brooks says time away from the South Carolina football team is a ‘blessing in disguise Jalen Brooks is officially back with the South Carolina football program. The North Carolina native spoke for the first time since being away from the team for what he and head coach Shane Beamer deemed “personal reasons” that sidelined him for the final seven games of last year. While Brooks declined to share any specifics as to the nature of his extended absence, he sounded off on returning to football, being back with his teammates, and the makeup of the receiver room in 2022.
Brooks said.“Being away with the team, things come up that are more important than football.” You’ve always got to handle your business. Adversity came my way, but I didn’t stop grinding. I kept on working. I came back stronger and faster. “I missed it for personal reasons and I’m going to continue to keep it that way, (but) it was also a blessing in disguise. I got to create a new identity outside of football. I came back and graduated. I started my master’s. I’m very excited.
Brooks has been practicing with the team since June and was expected to be a big part of South Carolina’s passing attack a season ago before stepping away from the program. He recorded 14 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown in five games last year. His best outing was a four-catch, 63-yard effort against Kentucky, which included a 5-yard score. How Brooks factors into the 2022 receiving corps remain to be seen. South Carolina revamped the unit this offseason, adding transfers Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (James Madison) and Corey Rucker Jr. (Arkansas State). Josh Vann who led USC in receiving a year ago is also back in the fold after briefly testing the NFL waters.
Brook's future is the NFL Brooks said that his plan, as of now, is to declare for the NFL Draft after the season and come back to finish his master’s degree in sports and entertainment management whenever his playing days are done.
August 05, 2022
Jalen Brooks says time away from the South Carolina football team is a ‘blessing in disguise Jalen Brooks is officially back with the South Carolina football program. The North Carolina native spoke for the first time since being away from the team for what he and head coach Shane Beamer deemed “personal reasons” that sidelined him for the final seven games of last year. While Brooks declined to share any specifics as to the nature of his extended absence, he sounded off on returning to football, being back with his teammates, and the makeup of the receiver room in 2022.
Brooks said.“Being away with the team, things come up that are more important than football.” You’ve always got to handle your business. Adversity came my way, but I didn’t stop grinding. I kept on working. I came back stronger and faster. “I missed it for personal reasons and I’m going to continue to keep it that way, (but) it was also a blessing in disguise. I got to create a new identity outside of football. I came back and graduated. I started my master’s. I’m very excited.
Brooks has been practicing with the team since June and was expected to be a big part of South Carolina’s passing attack a season ago before stepping away from the program. He recorded 14 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown in five games last year. His best outing was a four-catch, 63-yard effort against Kentucky, which included a 5-yard score. How Brooks factors into the 2022 receiving corps remain to be seen. South Carolina revamped the unit this offseason, adding transfers Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (James Madison) and Corey Rucker Jr. (Arkansas State). Josh Vann who led USC in receiving a year ago is also back in the fold after briefly testing the NFL waters.
Brook's future is the NFL Brooks said that his plan, as of now, is to declare for the NFL Draft after the season and come back to finish his master’s degree in sports and entertainment management whenever his playing days are done.
