Sexton's Karl Brooks selected by Green Bay Packers in NFL draft

Karl Brooks has reached his NFL dreams.

The former Sexton standout and Bowling Green defensive lineman was drafted by the Green Bay Packers on Saturday afternoon in the sixth round of the NFL draft. He went with the 179th overall pick.

Brooks became the first player from Greater Lansing taken in the NFL draft since Okemos grad Taylor Moton was taken in the second round in 2017 by the Carolina Panthers.

While that is a big accomplishment, Brooks isn't satisfied with just hearing his name called. He's ready to make a mark at the next level like he did in the Mid-American Conference.

"My mindset is to take somebody's job," Brooks said. "I want to go there and make a 53-man roster, take somebody's job and really compete on the field. I'm not really trying to go there just to make the practice squad or just to say I got drafted. I'm really trying to go there and make an input on my name and my legacy. I really want to go and take somebody's job and be the best Karl Brooks that I can be."

Brooks , who was a two-time team captain for the Falcons, registered 50 tackles in his final season at Bowling Green. That included having 18 tackles for loss and 10 sack while earning All-American honors from Pro Football Focus and first team All-MAC honors.

The 10 sacks Brooks had ranked third for a single season in program history.

Sexton football coach Johnel Davis said the Packers are getting a blue-collar player in Brooks.

"They're getting a hard-working individual, they're getting a team leader, they're getting a man with great high character, great integrity and most important a high IQ football player," Davis said. "He'll give you everything he has. He's proven that. He was the only gentleman from the MAC on the All-American first team.

"You know the first thing they questioned was whether or not he could play with the big boys. We were proud to see that when he got to the Senior Bowl that he could dominate even the guys on the upper level. That's what we love about the situation."

More: After strong finish at Bowling Green, Sexton's Karl Brooks hopes for NFL shot

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: NFL draft: Sexton graduate Karl Brooks drafted by Green Bay Packers