Following the 2022 NFL Draft, undrafted free agent Jamal Brooks received a rookie camp invite from the Chicago Bears, Pro Football Network reported. Brooks — who played his 2021 season with South Alabama — played four years at Missouri, prior to his transfer following his senior season.
At Missouri, Brooks played in 46 games, totaling 41 tackles and one pass break up. He saw his best numbers during his junior season of 2019, recording a career-high 21 tackles as a Tiger in a 6-6 year for Missouri.
Brooks was the defender who missed the game-winning interception against Arkansas in 2020, where the Tigers were inches away from sending the Razorbacks home on a two-point conversion play. Although defeat loomed, Missouri drove down the field and banged a game-winner off the leg of Harrison Mevis to win the Battle Line Trophy.
“Hustle off. We’ve got you. We’re going to win the game,” coach Eliah Drinkwitz told Brooks after missing the game-winning interception.
The Tigers did just that, and as seen in Missouri football’s postgame Instagram video, Brooks was the first person to hug Mevis, after he received the game ball for his 32-yard boot.
In his final collegiate season, Brooks recorded 42 tackles and one sack at South Alabama in 11 games — easily his best defensive production as a regular starter. Brooks also intercepted his first pass in college with the Jaguars, returning it for 56 yards.
“Brooks played predominantly as a reserve in his time with the Tigers, but he managed to step up in a bigger role for South Alabama this year,” Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron and The Draft Wire said. “Though he may lack elite size for the position, he is a solid athlete with a nice motor — who could contribute on special teams at the next level.”