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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Will Brooks couldn’t hide if he wanted to.
The Tennessee football safety was swallowed by a throng of media members in a tunnel at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday. His teammates still spotted him and yelled out, shouting “Willy B,” “No. 1 roommate” and “yeah, Brooksie!”
That’s life when you make the play of the game in a defensive jewel for the Vols.
Brooks, the walk-on defensive back from Birmingham, Alabama, barreled for 85 yards down the NC State sideline and into the end zone for a pivotal defensive score. Brooks never looked back and neither did No. 12 Tennessee (2-0), which pounded No. 23 NC State 51-10.
“It was a part of the straw that broke the back of them,” Vols coach Josh Heupel said. “It started creating momentum for us.”
How Will Brooks flipped Tennessee football vs NC State
Tennessee held a seven-point lead midway through the second quarter.
NC State quarterback Grayson McCall completed a game-long 28-yard pass to start a drive. The Wolfpack (1-1) ran for 15 then 12 then 4 to get to the Tennessee 16-yard line, threatening to make the 10-3 game a 10-10 affair.
Two Wolfpack receivers lined up to McCall’s right. One stayed straight while another drifted to the sideline. Brooks kept his eyes on tight end Justin Joly, who snuck off the edge of the offensive line.
“We had a great play from the box upstairs,” Brooks said. “I was able to read my keys and the ball just came to me.”
Vols edge rusher Joshua Josephs pressured McCall, but stopped when he recognized the play. He jumped, which made McCall sail the throw over Joly. Brooks was waiting as the throw cleared Joly.
Brooks, the senior making his third start, darted for the sideline. He eluded McCall at the 25-yard line. He wasn’t going to be caught and took an escort from Joseph all the way to the end zone to…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/walk-brooks-changed-tennessee-football-090536489.html
Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-09-08 09:05:36
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