How British Brooks ‘violence’ approach to special teams earned him Texans’ roster spot, team praises ‘toughness’

HOUSTON – British Brooks is in the collision business, embracing the high-speed, car crash world of covering kickoffs and punts on special teams.

Brooks made the Texans’ roster for the second consecutive year largely because of his hard-nosed and athletic style on special teams. A versatile running back-fullback who can play tight end in a pinch, Brooks had a one-word answer that captured the ethos of what it takes to be good at one of the fastest-paced and hardest-hitting parts of the NFL.

“Violence,” Brooks said with a smile one day after making the 53-man roster after overcoming a knee injury that cut short a promising rookie season last year.

A former undrafted free agent from North Carolina, Brooks broke tackles, busted through contact for extra yards and scored one touchdown in the preseason. He displayed versatility, lining up at fullback, knocking down a Los Angeles Rams heavyweight defensive tackle a year ago when the Texans first signed him.

And Brooks left the Texans with a lasting impression as they made their decision on his status. Their resounding takeaway: Brooks belonged on the initial 53-man roster again on a defending AFC South championship squad coached by DeMeco Ryans, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker.

“When you look at our program and what are the hallmarks of our teams and what’s important to DeMeco, toughness, effort, physicality,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. “Who better embodies that than British Brooks? The way he plays, his mindset, his toughness, the guy doesn’t say ‘boo.’ Doesn’t say much really in the building. Let’s his actions do the talking. British has earned his opportunity. British has worked really hard.

“He had his season cut short last year with the injury. But, when he’s been on the field, he’s made an impact. Made an impact last year, going back. He was active week one, made tackle on kickoff coverage or something like that. When you’re a role player you have to do multiple things well. You’re either a starter on offense, a starter on defense or a starter on the kicking game. British is a good kid, works hard, embodies a lot of the qualities we covet in this program.”

Brooks got the good news this week that he had earned a roster spot. It was a significant moment and a time for emotion as his telephone didn’t ring during the major roster cutdown.

For a former invited walk-on who overcame a torn knee ligament while playing for the Tar Heels and earned a scholarship, it was a milestone to learn that he had beat the odds to make the defending AFC South champions’ roster for the second time.

“First of all, I just want to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ and thank the coaching staff and DeMeco and Nick entrusting me, it means a lot,” Brooks said. “Just to show that even though I came back from injury I still came back being physical, being tough. I’m proud of myself on that. It means a lot to me.

“You never know. So, I control what I can control with what I did. I felt good in my preparation every day. But, then again, you never know. So, it’s just taking it how it is.”

What’s his role in the offense designed by new offensive coordinator Nick Caley?

Likely spot action, but mostly he’s expected to be a vital part when active for Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross.

“Wherever he needs me,” Brooks said. “Running back, fullback, I’m not going to say no. So, it’s just ‘Yes sir.’ If we need a yard, I’m going to go get a yard. Just try to be as versatile as I can.”

Brooks delivered thumping tackles throughout the preseason. It served notice again about what he’s all about as the first man downfield, breaking down into a sound football position and making a form tackle.

“I feel like everyone who went through training camp felt that way because Frank coaches his butt off every single day 100%,” Brooks s aid. “He misses no days with being intent on what to do, lining up and being violent when contact arrives. So, getting the trust part is just the non-negotiables of lining up, effort and being physical. As you keep doing that, the trust is going to grow.”

It was an emotional time for Brooks in many ways. From a personal standpoint, he greatly misses hearing from his grandfather, who died in March. He’s gone through old text messages from him to provide daily encouragement.

“This year’s been tough because a big part of my background, the people that’s been around me, my grandpa passed,” Brooks said. “So, it was tough not having him talking to me every day or just the little stuff he used to do every day. You look back and you’re like, ‘Dang, I miss that.’

“So, this camp was the toughest, mentally, because he wasn’t there. I had to tap in a lot. Going through text messages, I would just do that. Look through old text messages to see what he was saying, just reminding myself that I’m built for this.”

When Brooks was playing for Tar Heels coach Mack Brown, he overcame adversity.

Three years ago, Brooks was dealing with a shredded knee.

He thought about not playing football anymore.

It was a frustrating and sad time.

Ultimately, though, he informed North Carolina coach Mack Brown, whom he has a close relationship with, that he wanted to resume his career.

“It was like dark times for me, so there was a point when I didn’t want to play football no more,” Brooks said. “I didn’t want to see a football, I didn’t want to touch a football, I didn’t want to talk about football and then out of nowhere, I wake up and call my cousin and he trains me for the Pro day.

“I told my high school kids, a coach shouldn’t ask you if you love football. He should be able to see that you love football. I think that’s one thing that the people around me don’t have to ask if I love football. It’s always been in my heart to be a football player.”

Brooks was saluted by Brown on social media after making the team last year as his former coach wrote: ‘Congratulations to British Brooks on making the Texans roster. From walk-on to scholarship to the NFL. Couldn’t happen to a better person. We’re so proud of you British.”

The decision to join the Tar Heels after being overlooked coming out of Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, N.C. set Brooks on a path to make it to the NFL. It was a circuitous path, but he made it to the league.

“When I walked on at Carolina, it was another dark time for me because I wasn’t being heavily recruited and I felt like I should’ve been,” Brooks said. “To walk on at Carolina, I was just going to go do the four years, do school and whatever but then I met Javonte Williams, Mike Carter, Antonio Williams and them guys really showed me what competition is about. I think that’s why I really fell in love with it and that’s where I found my second love for the game.

“The first love is God giving me the ability to compete and fall in love with this game and that second love was being around people that wanted to compete and wanted to see me grow. Then as I got here, it was the same thing like I knew I was going to go hard, but once I saw people in the running back room and I seen how Jalen Pitre works and I seen how a lot of these dudes work, I just needed to up my game a little bit so I knew I really had to give my all every day.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2housotn.com