Louisville WR Ja'Corey Brooks Declares for 2025 NFL Draft

Brooks became the 11th player in Cardinals history to log a 1,000-yard receiving yard season.

Oct 19, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks (1) runs the ball against Miami Hurricanes defensive back D'Yoni Hill (19) during the second half at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Miami defeated Louisville 52-45. / Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville senior wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks has declared for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft and will forego his remaining collegiate eligibility, he announced Tuesday on social media.

"First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the ability to play the game love and for guiding me through every step of this journey," he said in a post to Twitter/X. "I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, coaches. teammates, and friends who have supported me unconditionally and shaped me into the player and person I am today.

"To my fans and supporters, from Alabama and Louisville thank you for always having my back. Your support throughout my journey has meant so much to me and I'm proud to have represented you every time l stepped on the field."

Brooks is the first Cardinal to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. While he did not explicitly say that he was opting out of the Sun Bowl, it is unlikely that he will suit up.

Coming over from Alabama in the previous offseason, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound pass catcher established himself as one of the best receivers in the ACC in his lone year as a Cardinal. His 1,013 receiving yards is second in the conference to Miami's Xavier Restrepo, while his nine touchdown receptions are third and his 61 receptions are eighth.

Brooks is the 11th Louisville player to log a 1,000-yard receiving yard season, and the first since Tyler Hudson in 2022. He's also just the fourth Louisville player to have a 1,000-yard and nine-touchdown receiving season, joining Tutu Atwell, Deion Branch and Arnold Jackson - the latter of which did it twice.

Brooks was limited to just three catches for 30 yards in nine games with the Crimson Tide last season due to a shoulder injury, but had proven himself in the past to be a valuable asset. During the 2022 season, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound receiver hauled in 39 receptions for 674 yards and team-best eight touchdowns for the Tide.

As a true freshman in 2021, Brooks caught 15 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-tying 28-yard catch in the final minute of Iron Bowl to help keep Alabama's College Football Playoff hopes alive, and a 44-yard score in the CFP Semifinal vs. Cincinnati. 

Louisville will conclude their 2024 season later this month with a matchup against Washington in the Sun Bowl. Kickoff against the Huskies is set for Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 2:00 p.m. EST from Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas.

(Photo of Ja'Corey Brooks: Jamie Rhodes - Imagn Images)

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