Countdown to 2018 IUFB Kickoff: 33 Days (Ricky Brookins)

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 33 Days (Ricky Brookins)

Ricky Brookins (Redshirt Senior)

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 195 Pounds

Hometown: Terre Haute, IN (Terre Haute North)

Position: Running Back

Ricky Brookins has become a fan and coach favorite over his first four seasons in Bloomington. He works hard, loves the game and gives back to the community off the field. He is one of the most trusted players in IU’s backfield.

Brookins walked on to the IU program after an outstanding high school career at Terre Haute North where he rushed for 2,012 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior. Brookins redshirted the 2014 season at IU and earned a Scout Team Player of the Week honor.

Brookins would find his way onto the field in seven games after earning a scholarship in fall camp as a redshirt freshman in 2015. He ran for 72 yards on 10 carries and returned 10 kickoffs for 172 yards.

As a redshirt sophomore Brookins again earned a scholarship in fall camp. He played in every game and posted a career-high 53 yards rushing on 12 carries and totaled 83 all-purpose yards in the Foster Farms Bowl against Utah. For the season Brookins.

For the third time in three years Brookins’s efforts were rewarded a scholarship in fall camp. The 2017 season saw the redshirt junior score his first touchdown in a game at Penn State and set new career-highs in total yards (119), long rush (64 yards) and catches (eight) in the 31-24 loss at Purdue.

Heading into the 2018 season, Brookins is one of the knowns in the IU backfield. He can be a rushing and receiving threat out the backfield and is the type of player the coaching staff can trust to give the ball to when running back Morgan Ellison and Cole Gest need a break. He will also be in the discussion as an option at kick returner.

From the Indiana Athletics release on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List announcement:

“Brookins has been named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, which recognizes players for their community service. Brookins, also a candidate for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, spearhead a GoFundMe page for football manager Matt Stauder that has raised over $23,000. Matt is entering his senior year at IU majoring in sports management and marketing. Last season, Matt unexpectedly lost his father to a heart attack. Shortly after, Matt was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer. He started treatments in early May.
 
Additionally, Brookins has been a volunteer at Camp Riley, a camp that empowers children with physical disabilities by providing life-changing experiences in a camp environment tailored to their individual needs. He has also participated in the 2nd & 7 Foundation, which promotes reading by providing free books and positive role models to kids in need while encouraging young athletes of the community to pay it forward. Brookins has participated in Hoosiers Outrun Cancer and served the homeless a Christmas Meal at St. Anthony Shelter at the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl.”