Georgia Tech defensive tackle Djimon Brooks is one of 88 nominees for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.
Brooks is in his third season as a starter with a total of 20 career starts, including all eight games this season for the Yellow Jackets. He has also been chosen as the team’s game captain eight times over the past two seasons and was named one of the four permanent team captains at the end of the 2020 season, making him the first former walk-on to be named a team captain since P.J. Daniels in 2005.
“It’s always an honor being recognized,” Brooks said of the Burlsworth nomination.
Brooks has walked a most unlikely path, given that he came to Tech after not having received any FBS or FCS scholarship offers coming out of Washington County High and then played in one game in his first three seasons at Tech.
Coach Geoff Collins placed him on scholarship prior to the 2020 season. Brooks is seeking to become the second Jackets player to win the award, following center Sean Bedford, who won the initial Burlsworth Trophy in 2010. A week ago, defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker praised Brooks for playing with “ridiculous effort.”
“He’s physical, he’s strong, he plays with good pad level, but his dominant trait is effort,” Thacker said.
Playing with full effort is a given for Brooks.
“Just looking at it as a privilege to be out there on the field,” he said, explaining his motivation. “It’s a privilege to be out there with my teammates. And for me to be out there – they’re allowing me to be out there on the field, so why wouldn’t I give my full effort chasing the ball, trying to get the ball down?”
This season, Brooks’ 23 tackles lead all defensive tackles on the team, status he held last season, as well.
A senior from Washington County High, Brooks earned his bachelor’s in economics in May. He has four regular-season games left in his Tech career.
“I haven’t really had time to slow down this season quite yet and take a look back, but it’s starting to get to that point where I’m starting to glance back at things and kind of realize what’s going on,” he said.
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