After strong finish at Bowling Green, Sexton's Karl Brooks hopes for NFL shot
The last few months have been a grind for Karl Brooks.
Since his college football career at Bowling Green wrapped up with an appearance in the Quick Lane Bowl, the mission for the former Sexton star has been working to put himself in the best position to chase his professional dreams.
That meant three months training in Florida, showcasing his abilities at the Senior Bowl and making visits with teams.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive lineman hopes all the work he's put in results in him hearing his name called during the NFL draft, which concludes Saturday. Brooks is projected as a sixth-round draft pick on the big board of ProFootballNetwork.com draft analyst Tony Pauline.
"It's been a fun adventure," Brooks said in an interview with the LSJ prior to a workout Friday at the Westside YMCA. "I've been cherishing everything, but it's definitely been a grind the last couple of months."
Brooks has a chance to be the first Greater Lansing high school graduate taken in the NFL draft since Okemos' offensive lineman and former Western Michigan standout Taylor Moton was selected in the second round in 2017. He put himself in the position with a strong final season at the Falcons where he earned All-American accolades from Pro Football Focus and was a first team All-Mid-American Conference selection.
Brooks registered 10 sacks, which ranked No. 3 for a season in Bowling Green history. The 2018 Sexton graduate was a team captain and started all 13 games for the Falcons.
"The middle of my senior year I started to get a little bit of buzz," Brooks said.. "My play just kept elevating.
"I felt like I gave myself a chance (at the NFL)."
Sexton football coach Johnel Davis coached Brooks when he earned LSJ defensive player of the year honors as a senior in 2017. Davis has been part of the NFL training process for Brooks and is pleased to see the position he is in.
"He's a blue-collar kid and he's been working really hard," Davis said, "This young man is just ready to continue to put in work and go after his dreams.
"To see the process unfold the way it has for Karl is truly a blessing. I can just hope it leads more young men in our program right now to strive harder and reach for their dreams."
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: NFL draft: Sexton's Karl Brooks hopes to get the call
