Ja’Corey Brooks Introduces Himself to the College Football World

It was a coming out party for Alabama wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks Saturday night.

The Florida native received extend playing time in Alabama’s 24-22 4OT victory over Auburn because of a targeting ejection to Jameson Williams in the first half. The Crimson Tide needed a young wide receiver to step up in the team's most critical moment of the season, and Brooks delivered.

Bryce Young orchestrated a 97-yard drive in the final 1:35 and connected with Brooks for a 28-yard score to tie the game with 0:24 left in regulation and force overtime. It was a drive and catch that Alabama fans will be talking about for a long time. Brooks also hauled in a 21-yard reception earlier in the drive.

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“We had a one-on-one matchup. I had faith in Ja’Corey to win that matchup,” Young said, “In a game as big as this, in a moment as big as this, to run that route and make that catch, that says a lot about him. His preparation, his hard work and the kind of player he is.”

Brooks, a 5-star recruit and the No. 2 rated wide receiver according to the 247Composite rankings in the 2021 recruiting cycle came into the game with two receptions for 21 yards. His biggest impact play of the season came against Texas A&M when he blocked a punt that was returned for an Alabama touchdown.

“A lot of other guys don’t take [special teams] serious,” Saban said in October, “But he’s done an outstanding job for us. He loves to play. He’s a really good competitor. He just likes to play. And we need more guys on our team to be able to contribute.”

Brooks introduced himself to the college football world on Saturday with a heroic catch that could propel the young wide receiver to a great career at the University of Alabama.