Looking into the 2025 crop of Running backs in the NFL Draft, there are different styles of runners for every single team. Today’s report highlights my favorite in the class, a hard nosed, smashmouth, productive runner who has the build of a bowling ball screaming down the alley towards the pins (in this case, the pins would be opposing linebackers.)
Tahj Brooks played his high school ball in Manor, Texas. Coming out of his high school career, he had already run for over 4400 yards and 65 total touchdowns.
As a 3 star prospect, he eventually enrolled at Texas Tech, where he had an immediate impact, appearing in all 10 games as a true freshman, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and 4 touchdowns during that season. In 2021, his average doubled to 6.5 yards a carry, and 7 touchdowns on 87 carries.
2022 saw his workload increased even further (147 carries, 691 yards, 7 touchdowns on the ground.) 2023 has been his most productive season yet, as he toted the rock 290 times for 1541 yards, and touchdowns, and added an additional 29 catches for 69 yards.
Not only showing prowess on the gridiron, he also showed it in the classroom, being nominated as a semi finalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, which is the premier award for scholar athletes in college football, as the list of candidates boast an impressive 3.63 average GPA, and more than half already having earned their bachelor’s degree.
Player Info
Name: Tahj Brooks
Jersey: No. 28
Position: Running back
School: Texas Tech
Class: Senior
Height: 5 foot 10
Weight: 230 lbs.
Tahj Brooks’ Strengths
Tahj’s biggest strengths are his powerful, compact, bowling ball sized build, which leads to breaking tackles effortlessly. His build also leads itself to his durability, as he’s handled a heavy workload (2023) with no significant dropoff in play.
He also demonstrated an innate ability to be a workhorse back, with multiple games in 2023 where he tallied 30 carries or more. He also is an effective pass protector with a willingness and technique to take on blitzers as they come screaming through the offensive line.
He also showed soft hands out of the backfield, which makes him a reliable check down option for quarterbacks at the next level. In addition, he improved his production each season, which shows that he can develop and adapt to different and ever increasing roles in different offensive schemes.
Tahj Brooks’ Weaknesses
Tahj does lack the top end speed, or that “5th gear”, which can limit his big play and breakaway ability in the pros. While he does have soft hands, he also has limited experience as a primary receiving threat out of the backfield, so his overall route tree and pass catching abilities are limited.
He may also struggle to create separation from NFL caliber linebackers at the next level, both running the ball and also in the passing game due to this lack of top end speed.
Draft Projection
Tahj Brooks, while one of my favorite players, is currently projected as a third round selection. He has the potential to develop in the right scenario into an every day, every down running back. With his hard nosed running style and power, here are a few teams who should look to add him in the NFL Draft:
- Kansas City Chiefs (While the chiefs have Pacheco already at RB, Tahj could be a very outstanding backup, allowing Reid and Co. to spell Pacheco and keep him fresh for longer stretches)
- Houston Texans (While Mixon is the main man in Houston, they could be looking for a replacement for Dameon Pierce, that can also step right in should Mixon miss time in the future.)
- Baltimore Ravens (Derrick Henry isn’t getting any younger, and Brooks’ tape matches up favorably with Henry. You can either use Brooks to spell Henry for a playoff run, or eventually replace Henry in Baltimore’s backfield.)
Ultimately, whoever selects Tahj Brooks will get a bowling ball in pads that can eventually develop into a top-line starter at running back in the NFL. At worst, he becomes the smash in a smash and dash backfield, and splits carries while also maximizing his potential.
My comparison for Tahj Brooks: Jamal Lewis, RB, Baltimore Ravens/Cleveland Browns
