Tahj Brooks
Tahj Brooks  RB  Texas Tech | NFL Draft 2025 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Tahj Brooks
Height
5-9
Weight
214
College
Texas Tech
Position
RB
Class
Senior
Home town
Manor, TX
83.4/100
Player Rating
12
PositionRank (RB)
4.52
FortyYD Time
Rush YDs
1505
Rush AVG
5.3
Rush TDs
17
Receptions
28
Rec YDs
199

Tahj Brooks RB Texas Tech | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Tahj Brooks RB Texas Tech
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

ROLE: Work-Horse Back
Last Updated: 03/01/2025
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.52 seconds (64%*)
Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl
Measurables:
Height: 5-9 (19%*) Weight: 214 (52%*)
Hands: 9 1/8 (42%*) Arm: 30 3/8 (36%*) Span: 74 5/8 (55%*)
Forty: 4.52 (C) (64%*) Shut: 4.06 (C) (91%*) Ten YD: 1.56 (C) (69%*)
Vert: 35 (C) (57%*) Broad: 120 (C) (61%*)
3Cone: 6.90 (C) (79%*) Bench: 16 (C) (23%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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ROLE: Work-Horse Back
Last Updated: 03/01/2025
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.52 seconds (64%*)
Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 5-9 (19%*) Weight: 214 (52%*)
Hands: 9 1/8 (42%*) Arm: 30 3/8 (36%*)
Span: 74 5/8 (55%*)
Forty: 4.52 (C) (64%*) Shut: 4.06 (C) (91%*)
10Yd: 1.56 (C) (69%*)
Vert: 35 (C) (57%*) Broad: 120 (C) (61%*)
3Cone: 6.90 (C) (79%*) Bench: 16 (C) (23%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 83.4 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
75%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Rushing:
89%
Break Tackles:
69%
Receiving/Hands:
59%
Pass Blocking:
67%
Run Blocking:
68%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 4th
Overall Rank: #115 Position rank: #12
College Games: 52 College Snaps: 2388
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 79/100
College Combine Results
Grade: 247 Sports 3  Stars 247 Sports 87 Stars 247 RATING: 87/100
Grade: 3 Stars 3 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Sean Tucker - Syracuse
76%
Max Borghi - Washington State
74%
Dameon Pierce - Florida
68%
Draft Profile: Bio
Tahj Brooks arrived at Texas Tech as a three-star recruit out of Manor High School (TX) and methodically built himself into one of college football's most dominant rushers. The 5'9", 214-pound back began his Red Raider career rotating into the backfield as a freshman before gradually taking on more responsibility, culminating in back-to-back 1,500-yard rushing seasons in 2023 and 2024.

Brooks rewrote the Texas Tech record books while building an academic resume equally as impressive as his on-field production. He became the program's all-time leading rusher with 4,557 yards, surpassing Byron Hanspard late in his senior season against Colorado. The versatile back also established a school record with 23 career 100-yard games, including an astonishing 11 consecutive during his senior campaign – a feat matched only by Boise State's Ashton Jeanty among all FBS players in 2024. His remarkable consistency and durability were showcased in his 879 career rushing attempts, the second-highest total in Big 12 history.

Beyond the stat sheet, Brooks distinguished himself in the classroom as a first-team Academic All-American, NFF National Scholar-Athlete, and finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (dubbed the "Academic Heisman"). His senior season yielded 1,505 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in just 11 games, along with 28 receptions for 199 yards and another score, cementing his status as one of just three players in Big 12 history to post multiple 1,500-yard rushing seasons. Brooks showcased his skills at the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he earned a spot on the All-Practice Team before receiving an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Supremely compact frame creates natural leverage and powerful contact balance – defenders consistently slide off his low center of gravity and struggle to square him up cleanly.
  • Displays exceptional vision with an uncanny ability to identify cutback lanes and anticipate holes before they develop – sees the field with veteran clarity.
  • Runs with remarkable rhythm and quick, bounding feet – stacks multiple cuts together in tight quarters that make him a nightmare to corral in the box.
  • Maintains excellent ball security despite heavy workload – only five fumbles on 879 career rushing attempts speaks to his disciplined carrying technique.
  • Shows immediate decisiveness hitting the hole in zone concepts – wastes no motion and minimizes negative plays with north-south mentality.
  • Consistently falls forward through contact with churning leg drive – turns 2-yard gains into 5-yard chunks by fighting through arm tackles.
  • Displays reliable hands as an outlet receiver with just two career drops – shows natural receiving skills despite limited route tree usage.
  • Brings nasty attitude to pass protection – squares up blitzers with proper leverage and plays with genuine toughness in this crucial aspect.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Lacks true breakaway speed and acceleration to consistently threaten home run plays – more of a 20-yard chunk runner than 60-yard scorer.
  • Sometimes overthinks instead of trusting instincts, causing slight hesitation that negates his natural quickness in certain situations.
  • Absorbed significant punishment with 633 touches over final two seasons – potential durability concerns given physical running style.
  • Limited route-running experience beyond checkdowns and screens – hasn't shown ability to stretch defenses vertically in passing game.
  • Blitz recognition occasionally inconsistent – shows willingness but sometimes misdiagnoses most immediate threat in protection schemes.
Scouting Report: Summary
Watching Tahj Brooks' film reveals a Day 3 talent who makes up for average athletic traits with excellent running instincts and physicality. His natural feel for finding cutback lanes and creating in tight quarters gives him immediate value as a rotational back in a zone-blocking system. What jumps off the tape is his remarkable ability to turn ordinary runs into chunk gains through sheer determination and surprising contact balance for his compact build.

Brooks thrives in downhill, one-cut zone schemes where his decisive plant-and-go ability creates immediate momentum. When I watch his tape against Iowa State and Oklahoma State, his vision to set up blocks and exploit backside cutback lanes jumps off the screen. He's built to punish arm tackles and fall forward through contact. What separates him is how he uses subtle hesitation moves to manipulate second-level defenders before delivering the blow on his terms. His pass protection shows genuine desire, but his receiving limitations mean he'll need to dominate early-down work to earn third-down opportunities. He's the kind of back who wears defenses down over four quarters – not with home runs, but with repeated body blows that accumulate.

Brooks brings something you can't measure at the combine – football character that elevates everyone around him. This guy runs angry when defenders challenge him, showing the competitive fire scouts love. Teams will value his academic background as evidence of his processing speed and work ethic, traits that typically translate to longevity in the league. While his athletic ceiling caps his draft position, Brooks has the mental toughness and technical proficiency to carve out a role that exceeds his draft slot, potentially developing into a valuable committee piece who can handle significant carries when called upon.
Written By:
Eli Cooper (Big 12)

Tahj Brooks percentiles vs other Running Backs (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)

How other scouting services rate Tahj Brooks (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
196.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
25.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.