Cox LB Torn Between Options

by Andy Hilton, recruit757

Cox LB Jay Brooks (foreground) (Photo: Bill Whitlow/recruit757)

Cox linebacker Jay Brooks has been much heralded for his leadership role on the Falcons Football team and his skill on the high school gridiron. Coaches never fail to praise his abilities or his heart, but college coaches hesitate because he’s shorter than the prototypical linebacker. He’s 5-9 and 195. He’s a beast in the weight room. He has football smarts and he’s good in the classroom. Jay Brooks is still uncommitted.

The most apt description of Jay’s situation is that he’s uncommitted because he wants to be. Jay could have committed to a smaller college before signing day, but he’s held out for a Division I opportunity. Jay’s not expecting a big time scholarship offer. He just wants a shot to earn his way onto the field at the Division I level.

“I’m still waiting to see if I can get a Division I-AA walk-on offer. I’m just trying to get the chance to play on that level,” Brooks said Friday night. “I feel like I can play on that level. If I can get my foot in the door anywhere, I think I have the ability to make it and earn a scholarship one day.”

Brooks has made tons of calls to college coaches and he’s finding it hard to get the invitation he’s looking for. William and Mary is considering him for a walk-on. He has a few other irons in the fire. Otherwise, there’s been no shortage of Division III interest.

“I’m going to Hampden-Sydney tomorrow,” the Cox backer commented. “I’ve been hearing from Christopher Newport. CNU is a great school. I’m already into Randolph-Macon. Other than that, I’ve been trying to take as much time as I need to in order to figure out what I’m going to do.”

Brooks could go a lot of places on his academics. He’s a 3.3 GPA student with far more than a qualifying SAT score. He’s submitted academic applications and has been admitted to a number of schools already including East Carolina. He’s looking for a mix of athletics and academics that suits him.

“If I can’t get it worked out at Division I, I think I’ll end up going with the best D-III school I think I like,” Brooks said. “I have an offer from Chowan, but I’ve looked at Division II and I don’t think that’s a good fit for me academically. Academics are just as important to me as athletics. That’s why I’m waiting so long. I want a school where the academics and the athletics are a fit for me.”

“All I want to do is have a chance. If I were to get a preferred walk-on at a good school, I’d take it in a heartbeat,” said Brooks emphatically. “I just want to get that chance. I have so many people behind me that believe in me. If I got that chance to play, I feel like I could earn a scholarship. I know I’m not the best looking recruit since I’m only 5-9, so I have to work with what I have. I need a coach to see me for how I can play.”

Other Cox players have moved on to walk-on positions at prominent programs. One of Brooks’ good friends, D.J. DiNardo, walked on at Virginia Tech two years ago and prospered there.

Brooks is ready to work hard for his college coach and not ready to give up on a big-time college football dream.

“I feel like I’d be a better player in college if I had to work for it. That’s just my mentality,” Jay said. “I don’t mind going out there knowing that I’ll have to earn my position. I’m better under pressure.”

Pressure is exactly what Jay will feel until he can get his college situation worked out. His frustration is obvious, but it’s also obvious that he’ll play college football. He just has to work through his options. In the meantime, he’s waiting for what he sees as an inevitable Division I preferred walk-on.

- Andy Hilton