Kennedy Brooks to Oklahoma: Sooners Land 4-Star RB Prospect

One of the most dominant running backs in high school football made his college choice Monday, as Kennedy Brooks announced that he will attend Oklahoma:

According to Scout, Brooks is a 4-star recruit who rates as the No. 12 overall running back, the No. 3 running back from the football-rich state of Texas and the No. 119 overall prospect in the class of 2017.

The Mansfield, Texas, native's recruiting profile received a massive boost during his junior campaign in 2015, as he put up ridiculous numbers that put him on the radar for many high-profile programs.

Per the Dallas Morning News, Brooks rushed for 3,522 yards and 42 touchdowns on 431 carries, proving he can be a true workhorse and the focal point of an offense.

That led to scholarship offers from in-state schools such as Texas Tech and Texas A&M, but he also captured the attention of Oklahoma, Michigan and other powerhouses across the nation, according to Scout.

When in the process of making his collegiate decision, Brooks revealed his desired criteria to Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles: "I want a team that will compete for a championship every year. I'm also looking for playing time and a place that will make me a better person and a better football player."

Brooks' remarkable talent level is evident when watching his highlight reel, and his Mansfield High School teammate, Saiid Adebo, believes he is every bit as good as advertised, per Sayles. 

"I don't think I've ever seen somebody make a tackle on him one-on-one," Adebo said. "He doesn't seem like someone who will break ankles, but he's got really [great] speed. Plus, he can make one cut and make you look completely foolish. I think he's the baddest running back in the state, even the nation."

While making the leap from high school to college represents a significant transition, the 5'11", 185-pound star seemingly has everything needed to excel in the college game.

His speed and ability to make opposing defenders miss are already at an elite level, and the fact that he put up such eye-popping numbers against strong competition suggests he's beyond ready for a new challenge.

Although Brooks may be able to earn some playing time immediately, he will likely have to learn how to play a complementary role for at least a brief period of time. 

The Sooners could have to replace both Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon—both are three years removed from high school—so the path to playing time will depend on their statuses. Both have had enough collegiate success to consider an NFL move, but neither is generating high marks as a guaranteed Day 1 pick. 

Even if Brooks does become a starter early on, he won't be given the ball 400-plus times over the course of a season, and that is an adjustment he'll be forced to make. 

If he can be equally as effective in a smaller sample size as he's been in high school, though, he will represent one of the biggest coups of the 2017 recruiting class.   

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