Pick: Round Six, 193rd Overall
Name: Tahj Brooks
Hometown: Manor, Texas
College: Texas Tech
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 214 lbs
Arms: 30 3/8"
Hands: 9 1/8"
*This story will be updated*
Bengals Reaction: "Great lateral quickness. Good ball skills. Can protect for us. Good all-around back." - HC Zac Taylor.
Player Reaction: "I feel like I am an all-around back. I'm very versatile. I can catch the ball out of the backfield, I'm very explosive in the run game and I have very solid hands in pass pro. That's something you see on my tape a lot." - Tahj Brooks
"It was a great experience. I'm very blessed that the Bengals organization drafted me. It was awesome. It put a smile to my face. Me and the running backs coach (Justin Hill) go very well. He was a guy that recruited me in college and I'm glad I got to be back with him." - Tahj Brooks on receiving the call he was drafted
College Highlights: Brooks had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Red Raiders and tallied 633 touches over that span, forcing 154 missed tackles (third in FBS). He was First-team All-Big 12 Conference in 2023, ranking fourth in the FBS in rushing yards. He was named second-team All-Big 12 after scoring 17 rushing touchdowns. He set a school record with 879 rushing attempts and 4,557 rushing yards for his career.
Draftnick Takes: "Stout runner and workhorse who handled a whopping 633 touches for Texas Tech's offense over the last two seasons. Brooks runs low to the ground with a powerful base and instant cut quickness to shake tacklers or elude them in tight quarters... Brooks' productivity and ability to force missed tackles give him a chance to become an NFL backup." - NFL.com
How does he fit: Brooks will slide into a running back room featuring Chase Brown, Samaje Perine and Zack Moss and will likely serve in a complimentary/depth role, especially in short-yardage and pass-blocking situations.
Did You Know?: Brooks is firmly set in the Big 12 record books: He concluded his career fourth on the Big 12 all-time rushing chart, trailing only former Bengal Cedric Benson of Texas (5,540 yards), Ricky Williams (5,273) and Darren Sproles (4,979). He also was fourth in 100-yard rushing games with 23 and second in rushing attempts, trailing Benson. Brooks was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 first team selection and was a 2024 first team Academic All-America selection and Big 12 Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He once interned for the Texas Tech sports communications department and earned a bachelor's degree in sports management and a certificate in sports communication while in Lubbock.
Top photos of Cincinnati Bengals sixth-round pick Tahj Brooks during his time at Texas Tech.
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) breaks a tackle against Oregon during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Chase Seabolt)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) during an NCAA football game against Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against West Virginia during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Morgantown, W. Va. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball as Iowa State defensive back Malik Vernon (7) tries for a tackle in the first quarter during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Bryon Houlgrave)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs past California defenders during the first half of the Independence Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Shreveport, La. Texas Tech won 34-14. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs for a first down against California during the second half half of the Independence Bowl NCAA college football game, Dec. 16, 2023, in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, file)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs into the end zone for a touchdown late in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Bryon Houlgrave)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) tries to break a tackle by Iowa State defensive back Treyveon McGee (24) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Texas Tech won 14-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) breaks a tackle against an Oregon defender during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Chase Seabolt)
Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks (28) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against West Virginia, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
In this Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, file photo, Texas Tech wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (13) runs with the ball against Houston during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston. There are a few simple explanations about why Texas Tech hasn't really spread the ball around that much on offense. Ezukanma makes things look so easy with all those big plays while leading the nation in receiving and Tahj Brooks has more than 100 yards rushing in both games with four touchdowns when he wasn't even expected to be the team's top running back. Plus, the Red Raiders (2-0) just haven't run a whole lot of plays. (AP Photo/Justin Rex, File)
