Ahmad Brooks | The War Room | HoustonProFootball.com 
Inside Linebacker
Ahmad Brooks
College: Virginia
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6’3"
Weight: 249
Birthday: March 14, 1984
Ahmad Brooks took a detour on his way to the University of Virginia, but he hit the ground running once he arrived. USA Today’s 2001 high school defensive player of the year had the grades but not the SAT score to play immediately, so he spent a semester at a prep school. Last year Brooks earned a starting inside linebacker job in the Cavalier 3-4 defense and garnered freshman All-American honors.
With prototypical size, strength, speed, and instincts, Brooks is a natural linebacker. The Cavaliers shifted Brooks to rush end on passing downs last season, although in 2004 they may move him around more as a standup blitzer. His best performance came in Virginia’s bowl win against Pitt, highlighted by a fourth down play where Brooks shook off a wingback’s block, beat a pulling guard to the hole, and stuffed the runner on the Cavalier one yard line.
Brooks’ inexperience showed at times last year, as he made some freshman mistakes. Against Maryland, he twice kept alive what turned out to be a touchdown drive with third-down penalties (roughing the passer and offsides). He also drew a 15-yard penalty against Pitt for starting a mini-brawl, sans helmet, when he took exception to having the ball thrown in his face after a tackle.
Brooks will be eligible to enter the draft this January because he will be three years out of high school. He can do everything that a 3-4 inside linebacker needs to do and would form a dynamic tandem with fellow Cavalier Jamie Sharper in the middle of the Texan’s defense.
(profile written by Warren DeLuca)
Ahmad Brooks’ 2003 Stats G TCK TFL SKS FF FR 13 117 10 4.0 1 0 
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