Longhorns Could Have 'Bell-Cow' Runner In Jonathon Brooks For Big 12 Play

Jonathon Brooks' breakout game against Wyoming could lead to an uptick in carries against Big 12 teams.

When Jonathon Brooks lowers his shoulder, defenders best be ready to handle the hitstick. He's not looking to run past a player with speed but rather through them with power. 

Brooks, the one who last year served as the "other" tailback behind Doak Walker Award winner Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, can be "the guy" the No. 3 Texas Longhorns need to run the table through the Big 12 and potentially the College Football Playoff. He doesn't possess Robinson's open-field elusiveness to take defender's ankles. He's not a perfect pass protector like Johnson was as the No. 2 option. 

But he has power — plenty that pushes him through the line of scrimmage and into the open field. Brooks is a change-of-pace runner that pairs well with freshman phenom CJ Baxter, who became the first Texas running back since Ricky Williams in 1995 to start a season opener. 

Combined, the duo alleviates the pressure of Ewers having to play hero ball on Saturdays, which was missing in a 31-10 win over Wyoming. 

“It doesn't matter which running back is back there,” Brooks said, referring to the room. “I feel like whoever you put back there, we're going to get the job done. We've just got to keep honing our craft and just keep going to work.”

With Baxter out due to a foot injury, Brooks became the "bell-cow" runner against the Cowboys. He piledrived his way through the defensive front, totaling a career-high 185 yards on the ground. More importantly, Brooks' hard-nose run style wore down Wyoming's defense to open up the passing game. 

“I think he played to what we all know he's capable of playing like,” quarterback Quinn Ewers said. ‘That's the kind of back he is; he runs really hard, and he's prideful about his work." 

Ewers, who finished with a season-low 131 passing yards, connected on a screen pass with Xaiver Worthy, who turned upfield for a 44-yard score, breaking the 10-10 tie. First downs began to pile up before the redshirt sophomore closed the door on an upset with a 5-yard touchdown run with nine minutes left. 

“He's also just an all-around great guy and hard worker,” linebacker David Gbenda said. “He brings it every day. He makes me get better every day, whether it’s him trying to beat me in pass protection or me just covering him on routes.”

Performances like Saturdays were expected from the sophomore heading into the No. 3 Longhorns final season as members of the Big 12. Last year, he saw an uptick in production alongside Johnson and Robinson toward the season's end, rushing for 197 yards and an average of 6.6 yards per carry. 

Fans saw the potential last November when Brooks rushed for a then-career-high 108 yards against Kansas. His 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the icing on the cake in Lawrence after the Jayhawks pulled off the improbable upset in 2021 under new coach Lane Leipold. 

On Saturday, he nearly broke free for another long score, coming on a 61-yard scamper to put Texas deep inside Wyoming territory. He chuckled, knowing he was five yards shy of making history again. 

"Well, I'm not that fast," Brooks told reporters. 

So maybe Brooks doesn't possess the open-field legs of Baxter or Keilan Robinson, but there's more than meets the eye when it comes to his play. This season, he's averaging 5.8 yards per run. He's been influential in the passing game, totaling 48 yards through the air for an average of 15.3 yards per play. 

The speed might not be there, but the ability to push forward is. According to Pro Football Focus, Brooks has forced 10 missed tackles through three games, the most by any Power 5 player to date. 

"With Cedric getting hurt against Alabama in the fourth quarter, who finished that game was Jonathon Brooks," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said earlier this week. "I think (that) instilled a lot of confidence in him. That showed up (against Wyoming), and I thought he played really good football on Saturday night.”

Baylor (1-2, 0-0 Big 12), which ranks 106th nationally defending the run, should be another game for Brooks to prove his bell-cow status. Baxter has been cleared to play, but Sarkisian might be playing the hot hand until further notice. 

“How you feel Monday morning, it's different when you're carrying the ball that many times," said Sarkisian on Brooks' career-high in carries. "So it's comforting to know that he has that in him and to know what he's capable of doing.”

Sarkisian said seeing Brooks' nimbleness on display in practice is a positive sign towards expanding his workload, even if Baxter trots out for the open drive. 

Kickoff from McLane Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.