JuJu Brents: Indianapolis Colts Rookie Files

As a local kid from Indy, JuJu Brents now gets to don the same Horseshoe his idols did as he suits up for the Indianapolis Colts.

Every young kid playing football dreams of making it to the NFL.

They watch their heroes on TV or at the stadium battle it out on the field, mimicking their moves in the backyard until they are called inside for dinner. They cheer on their favorite players, hoping to be just like them someday.

Now imagine not only making it to the NFL, a life-long dream, but playing for your hometown team you spent years cheering for as a kid. It does not get any sweeter than that.

This is "Rookie Files," a series on Horseshoe Huddle that gives you the backstory of every rookie for the Indianapolis Colts. Going player by player, we look at their journeys to the NFL and what makes each unique while also detailing how they help the Colts. Next up, JuJu Brents, who spent his childhood in Indy cheering on the Colts and will now suit up for them on Sundays.

The Local Kid Making Noise

© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City Press-Citizen via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Brents was born on January 18, 2000, in Indianapolis, Ind., to Vontres Brents and Serena Fowlkes. Brents always received support from his parents. Whether on the football field or off, Vontres and Serena instilled core values in JuJu that he continues to follow.

Growing up on the city's east side, Brents lived close to downtown Indianapolis. He took an interest in football at a young age and quickly became a fan of the Colts. Brents grew up going to Colts games, cheering on the team during one of the winningest decades in NFL history. 

Like most Indiana kids throughout the 2000s, Brents's favorite player on the Colts was Peyton Manning. But playing defensive back, he also gravitated to another player: Bob Sanders. Sanders, the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was the hard-hitting safety for the Colts that was essential to their Super Bowl XLI victory.

Brents imagined he was Sanders while on the football field as a kid and became a great player in his own right. He attended Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, where not only was Brents a standout football player but active in basketball and track as well. But it was apparent his future would be on the gridiron.

Brents was teammates at Warren Central with current Cleveland Browns wide receiver David Bell. Jayson West, the former head coach of Warren Central, would match up his star wide receiver with his star cornerback each day in practice.

"And that's how you want it — you want your best on your best," West told Colts.com. "You want to push each other as much as you possibly can.

"Both of those young men are such first-class people — that's why they're at where they're at, and they made it fun every day. They made it exciting. As a coach, I got to witness some of the coolest things every just watch them run around, catch balls, jump around defense — doing things no one else can do."

The kid nicknamed "Bambi" began to make a name for himself, earning All-Conference and All-County honors his junior and senior seasons. Brents was voted a team captain as a senior and finished with 89 tackles and five interceptions at Warren Central.

Big Ten Country came calling for the three-star, No.4 ranked recruit in Indiana. While Brents received offers from Indiana, Michigan State, and Louisville, he really bonded with the Iowa coaching staff. Brents committed to the Hawkeyes before his senior season, with the dream of making it to the NFL still alive.

Struggles at Iowa

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Brents arrived at Iowa ready to take on the Big Ten. As a three-star recruit, he was not expected to have a prominent role so early in his career. But injuries to a few of his teammates forced Brents to become one of the starting cornerbacks as a true freshman.

In 11 games with five starts, Brents held his own with 13 tackles, four pass deflections, and an interception. The freshman had arrived and seemed to be a star in the making for an Iowa team looking to make noise in the conference. 

But things changed quickly the following season. During fall camp, Brents suffered a knee injury that would cause him to miss almost the entire 2019 season. The injury was a devastating blow to the young corner.

Brents was ready to pick up where he left off in 2018, where he showed so much promise. But by 2020, the Hawkeyes had moved on, and Brents had lost his spot in the starting lineup. He only registered four tackles in seven games and struggled mightily at times.

Struggles at the cornerback position can be devastating for a young player. A loss of confidence can cause play to spiral, marking the beginning of the end of a promising career.

With Iowa set at cornerback, Brents entered the transfer portal after the 2020 season in search of a new team. A month in the portal led him from the Big Ten to the Big 12, as Brents would take his talents to Kansas State looking to realize the potential he once had.

Success at Kansas State

© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Brents immediately made the most of his opportunity at K-State as the change of scenery was exactly what he needed.

He impressed throughout the spring and summer months as he became more acclimated to the Wildcats' scheme. At Iowa, Brents was mostly in zone situations where he had limited opportunities to make plays on the ball. With Kansas State, he could use his physicality and length in man coverage to his advantage and make things tough on opposing wide receivers.

Brents was quickly named a starter for the Wildcats and experienced the two best seasons of his career. He started all 27 games for Kansas State, tallying 94 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 11 passes defended, and a forced fumble. 

The athletic cornerback also showed out in the Big 12 Championship game against TCU. As the primary defender on first-round wide receiver Quentin Johnston, Brents recorded the lone forced fumble of his career and a huge interception en route to a victory for the Wildcats.

Brents also racked up plenty of accolades in his time at K-State. As a senior, he was voted First-Team All-Big 12 and Second-Team Academic All-Big 12. The star potential he showed at Iowa was rediscovered at Kansas State, and Brents proved he could be one of the best cornerbacks in the country.

After two great seasons with the Wildcats, the Indy native entered his name into the NFL draft. Measuring in at almost 6'3" and 198 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, Brents was already going to be one of the biggest cornerbacks in this draft class. But with 34-inch arms and an 82.5-inch wingspan, Brents solidified himself as the longest defensive back in the class, as well.

Brents's 4.53 in the 40-yard dash did not showcase burning speed. However, where Brents excelled was in the vertical (41.5") and the broad jump (11'6"), showing off his elite explosion and proving he was one of the most athletic cornerbacks the NFL has ever seen.

With that type of size and athleticism, many believed the Colts would be a perfect fit for Brents. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley loves long, athletic corners for his defensive scheme. When Brents was seen talking with head coach Shane Steichen at the Colts' local pro day, it ramped up the rumors Indy was very interested in the local kid.

After trading back in the second round, the rumors turned out to be true. The Colts selected Brents with the No.44 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The kid who grew up idolizing Manning and Sanders will don the same Horseshoe they did.

"You couldn’t write a better story than this," Brents said after he was drafted. "First and foremost man, just give my thanks to God. I feel like this is nothing but him, just being able to have this opportunity to play in my hometown. Being a Colts fan my whole life, growing up watching. Peyton Manning was my favorite player growing up with Bob Sanders. Now, just being able to put on that same Horseshoe man, it’s nothing short of a blessing."

How Brents Helps the Colts

© Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback became one of the most pressing needs for the Colts as the offseason progressed. Stephon Gilmore was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Brandon Facyson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. The Colts needed another starter on the outside.

Enter Brents, a tall, long cornerback with incredible athleticism and a perfect fit for Bradley and the Colts' defense. Brents possesses the physicality needed to be an asset in run support and press coverage. While not having elite speed, his length allows him to stay with receivers down the field.

In pass coverage, Brents has experience in both zone and man schemes. He does a nice job keeping eyes on the quarterback and reading where the ball will go. His five interceptions over the last two seasons show an improvement in ball skills that should continue at the next level.

Brents will look to find the same success he had at Kansas State with the Colts. He will be given every opportunity to earn one of the starting outside cornerback spots in a Colts secondary filled with young players. Indy could be looking at two rookie starters on the outside and will need Brents to grow up fast.

But if Brents's story has proven anything, the young cornerback does not give up when things get tough. He makes the most of his opportunities and loves to be coached. With an incredible opportunity to be a starter for the Colts for a long time, Brents is determined to not give it up.

"I know (the Colts) wanted a great corner," Brents revealed. "And they got one with me."

More Rookie Files

• QB Anthony Richardson
• WR Josh Downs
• OT Blake Freeland
• DE Adetomiwa Adebawore
• CB Darius Rush
• S Daniel Scott
• TE Will Mallory
• RB Evan Hull
• DE Titus Leo
• CB Jaylon Jones
• OT Jake Witt

Want more Colts content? Check out the latest episode of the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast!

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