Last season, Gaither LB Decalon Brooks as a sophomore hit the scene with the same force he likes to hit opposing ball carriers. This offseason and spring, Brooks has concentrated on getting himself right physically and even more-so-importantly from a mental standpoint preparing to be the leader-by-example that he’s expressed he’d like to become.
You might think that with the last name Brooks AND being a linebacker in this town that there’s quite a few eyes and expectations that come with that correlation. You’d be right, but Decalon is as humble and quietly focused as they come. He understands that it’s his actions that will speak volumes to his teammates and coaches; that folks like us in the media can do all the talking.
We caught up with Decalon this week to get an idea for what’s been going on in his world since the Cowboys finished up their 2014 campaign at 7-3. Brooks posted 104 tackles with 66 of those solo and 12 tackles for loss during the season while creating some havoc for QB’s getting five sacks, 3 pass deflections and an interception. Brooks also caused two fumbles as well. Decalon’s also an Xecutives invitee and the #22-ranked overall prospect for the Class of 2017 on BCP’s Fire 79 List. Here now, is Decalon Brooks—in his own words.
BCP: How did your spring go and how has your offseason been thus far?
DB: “Spring went well, I had to sit out because I had a hip injury that I had to work through. The summer has started out real good—going on the bus tour and working out at the camps and just getting better and now I’m back ready for Xecutives.”
BCP: You mentioned the bus tour that you and several other players attended this summer. Anything standout from that?
DB: “Mississippi State’s camp stood out to me working with Coach Diaz, their Defensive Coordinator. He was giving me some really good advice and then told me just to keep always working hard, to always learn from the camps and not to let the camps use you, but the other way around—to always look to learn things and apply them back to my team and try to help my teammates get better as well.”
BCP: With that said, do you have anything specific that you’re trying to work on at the moment? Or is this more of an overall effort to work on everything or better yet–the total package?
DB: “I’m trying to work on the total package right now, really—nothing too specific. Just developing myself overall and just work on everything related to being a linebacker like technique, making reads, to being a better leader on my team and push everyone to do their best.”
BCP: Let’s talk about the leadership. Even “if” you were not designated as a team captain (albeit highly unlikely you wouldn’t but for arguments’ sake you weren’t)—you’d probably still be looked at by everyone (let’s face it) because of the last name to be one regardless. Can you explain how you feel about that?
DB: “It feels great (being a leader even when not “designated” as one). It still doesn’t stop me from developing leadership and being a leader and encouraging my teammates. It’s an automatic thing to me. You don’t even have to call me a captain for me to want to be a leader.”
BCP: So, with the fall arriving before you know it, have you started looking ahead to August? Or are you just working from a here-and-now aspect with the emphasis on getting better each day? Is there anything you might be thinking specifically that if you get better in a certain area of the position it could spill over into the teams’ success?
DB: “I get up and attack it day-by-day. There’s nothing really specific that I’ve got my mind set on right now. I’m just seeing what I can do within my training that’s going to benefit what the team wants to accomplish as well. Once I figure that out, then I can get into the specifics where I can work on them. Right now, there’s nothing really specific.”
BCP: We got to ask about the important stuff away from the field and that’s the classroom. We know you just got done grinding, but just like the football season, so too those classes will be coming with it. How’s it going on that front and how do plan on approaching that aspect with half of your high school career already over with?
DB: “Really I’m just trying to focus on keeping the grades up. School’s number one and comes before everything. That’s been taught to me my whole life, just doing extra things in the classroom that people don’t do to improve themselves in the classroom. I just don’t want to be the student that goes into the classroom, listens and takes notes like a robot and then just goes off to the football field. I want to stand out. I want to do the extra things inside to make the teachers notice me and not just be labeled as just another “football player” and show that I’m leader away from the football field as well.”
BCP: One last thing, I’m sure some people are already interested in what possibly lies ahead in the future at the next level. Who’s showing interest as of right now?
DB: “Schools that have shown interest as of right now are USF and Florida State. I can get offers and I really use them to help me do better, like motivation. I don’t focus on getting the offers. Right now I’m just focused on getting better and helping my team get better. There’s no reason to get a big head and say, ‘Oh, I’ve got such-and-such offers’—I can use the ones I get as blessings and as an opportunity to stay motivated and keep working that much harder.”