Four Goals Led Brooks Back
Apr 14, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
It's been three months since Phillip Brooks made the first phone call. After a month of discussion that involved pros-and-cons living-room talks with family, phone calls with friends, teammates and coaches — a prolonged, painstakingly meticulous process that began around one month before Kansas State played in the Sugar Bowl — Brooks picked up the phone one day in early January. He called Chris Klieman. Coming off his best season as a star punt returner and dangerous pass-catching option in his fifth season, Brooks told his head coach that he wanted to play a sixth year ("My parents were shocked that I was even flirting with a sixth season," he says), thus unlocking the gates to a personal, potential-filled kingdom in which he can further slay would-be tacklers as arguably the most potent punt returner in the country.
Word spread like a Kansas wildfire within the walls of the Vanier Family Football Complex, as the most-veteran wide receiver and owner of four career punt-return touchdowns announced, "Let's ride," thus returning a key cog for a wide receiver room that lost seniors Malik Knowles and Kade Warner, and resecuring the services of a noted leader who has already lent a hand to likes of sophomore transfer Keagan Johnson, as he transitions to a frightening-productive offense led by second-year coordinator Collin Klein.
Brooks' decision to return funneled into four goals: 1) he believes an additional year will help his NFL Draft stock in 2024; 2) he wants to earn his master's degree; 3) he seeks to help maintain the culture for a program that comes off a Big 12 Championship; and 4) he aims to help the Wildcats repeat as league champions in the fall.
"Winning the Big 12 Championship, going back-to-back, that's something that's never been done in (K-State) history," Brooks says. "That's what we plan on doing."
As he details the past couple months inside Vanier, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Brooks appears muscled up underneath his white T-shirt, prompting someone to ask if he has added some weight over the offseason ("I've put on a little weight," Brooks responds without offering a specific number) yet there's no denying that he carries the same elite speed as a year ago. Brooks studied his departing teammates as they participated in the NFL Pro Day last month. He studied the drill work and looked impressive while running routes for NFL-hopeful Adrian Martinez, accelerating to corral 40-yard over-the-shoulder passes in stride inside the indoor practice facility.
"I can run a 4.4, no problem," Brooks says. "I just have to work on my top-end speed. I feel like once I get my top-end speed together I can reach a 4.3."
History has shown that when Brooks has the ball in his hands, it's hard to catch him. He ranks first in the FBS in punt-return average (14.6) and punt-return touchdowns (four), and second in punt-return yards (641) among active players heading into 2023.
"As far as feats in knowing I'm one of the best, I don't pay too much attention to that," he says. "I just play for the team."
At K-State, he enters 2023 ranked second in school history and tied for sixth in Big 12 history in punt-return touchdowns (four), fifth at K-State in both punt-return average (14.6) and punt-return yards (641), and eighth in punt-return attempts (44). He is tied for seventh in K-State history in career receptions (129). He is 255 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, and 227 all-purpose yards shy of entering K-State's top-10 list in each category. He is also one of just five players with 1,000 receiving yards and 600 punt-return yards in a career.
"Special teams is the third aspect of the game, and I take pride in my work," he says. "I'll continue to take pride in my work and be a threat. I'm excited about this year."
The start to Brooks' career was somewhat unglamorous as the former first team all-state pick out of Lee's Summit (Mo.) West High School played in four games to retain his redshirt status in 2018. However, Brooks' production immediately ramped up in 2019, as he had 26 catches for 253 yards and one touchdown and finished fourth in the Big 12 in kickoff-return average (22.7) and tied for third nationally with his first-career punt-return touchdown (66 yards) against Navy in the 2019 Liberty Bowl. Brooks earned 2020 Third Team All-America honors behind a 23.7-yard punt-return average — a mark that would've led the nation and been No. 1 in school history if he had one more return to meet the NCAA required minimum.
Although Brooks ranked second on the team in receptions (43) and first in receiving yards (543) in 2021, he was held without a touchdown reception — a stat that emphatically changed when Klein took the reins of the offense last season. Starting all 14 games, Brooks set career highs in catches (45), receiving yards (587) and touchdowns (four) while earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors as a punt/kick returner.
"When I came here, I started from the bottom walking on, so just to go through the process of walking on to getting a scholarship to playing on special teams only to getting a little bit of offense, and now being in the offensive rotation was big," he says. "I just feel like last year there were just some plays left out there for me. I know that, and the coaches know that.
"This year, I definitely plan on taking advantage of that with this being my last ride."
He plans to unlock his potential in the fall. That includes lining up at even more wide receiver spots this season to utilize his versality and mastery of the offense.
"I just want to be more impactful, a better playmaker and more consistent in my route running and releases at top of my breaks," he says. "Just fine-tuning my game and making more plays this year. That's what I plan on doing."
Brooks asserts that Klein will "bring out stuff that we haven't brought out" offensively, which is scary given the long-reaching potential of quarterback Will Howard, the return of All-Big 12 First Team tight end Ben Sinnott and the entire starting offensive line, and the potential impact of wide receivers RJ Garcia II and Johnson, and the return of running back DJ Giddens along with the arrival of Florida State transfer Treshaun Ward.
Last season, the K-State offense ranked in the top 10 in school history in 14 game or season categories.
"Our theme this season is 'Raise the Bar,' so we're trying to do more than what we did last year offensively," Brooks says. "That's what we've been working on this spring."
Brooks, who turns 24 on September 19, already has been subject to fun-loving nicknames such as "grandpa" and "uncle" among his younger teammates.
Already, he envisions what it might be like to run onto the field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium for the season opener against SEMO on September 2. Running onto the football field never gets old, yet each step will carry some added significance for Brooks in 2023. This is another reason he returned to K-State: To treasure these moments.
"What we train for all year is to play this game in front of our beautiful fans," he says. "It's always a great moment, and it'll be especially because this will be my last year. I'll definitely have a little more excitement going into this year knowing it's going to be my last first game."
He pauses.
"I'm excited for the team," he says. "I'm ready to go back-to-back."
It's been three months since Phillip Brooks made the first phone call. After a month of discussion that involved pros-and-cons living-room talks with family, phone calls with friends, teammates and coaches — a prolonged, painstakingly meticulous process that began around one month before Kansas State played in the Sugar Bowl — Brooks picked up the phone one day in early January. He called Chris Klieman. Coming off his best season as a star punt returner and dangerous pass-catching option in his fifth season, Brooks told his head coach that he wanted to play a sixth year ("My parents were shocked that I was even flirting with a sixth season," he says), thus unlocking the gates to a personal, potential-filled kingdom in which he can further slay would-be tacklers as arguably the most potent punt returner in the country.
Word spread like a Kansas wildfire within the walls of the Vanier Family Football Complex, as the most-veteran wide receiver and owner of four career punt-return touchdowns announced, "Let's ride," thus returning a key cog for a wide receiver room that lost seniors Malik Knowles and Kade Warner, and resecuring the services of a noted leader who has already lent a hand to likes of sophomore transfer Keagan Johnson, as he transitions to a frightening-productive offense led by second-year coordinator Collin Klein.
Brooks' decision to return funneled into four goals: 1) he believes an additional year will help his NFL Draft stock in 2024; 2) he wants to earn his master's degree; 3) he seeks to help maintain the culture for a program that comes off a Big 12 Championship; and 4) he aims to help the Wildcats repeat as league champions in the fall.
"Winning the Big 12 Championship, going back-to-back, that's something that's never been done in (K-State) history," Brooks says. "That's what we plan on doing."
As he details the past couple months inside Vanier, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Brooks appears muscled up underneath his white T-shirt, prompting someone to ask if he has added some weight over the offseason ("I've put on a little weight," Brooks responds without offering a specific number) yet there's no denying that he carries the same elite speed as a year ago. Brooks studied his departing teammates as they participated in the NFL Pro Day last month. He studied the drill work and looked impressive while running routes for NFL-hopeful Adrian Martinez, accelerating to corral 40-yard over-the-shoulder passes in stride inside the indoor practice facility.
"I can run a 4.4, no problem," Brooks says. "I just have to work on my top-end speed. I feel like once I get my top-end speed together I can reach a 4.3."
History has shown that when Brooks has the ball in his hands, it's hard to catch him. He ranks first in the FBS in punt-return average (14.6) and punt-return touchdowns (four), and second in punt-return yards (641) among active players heading into 2023.
"As far as feats in knowing I'm one of the best, I don't pay too much attention to that," he says. "I just play for the team."
At K-State, he enters 2023 ranked second in school history and tied for sixth in Big 12 history in punt-return touchdowns (four), fifth at K-State in both punt-return average (14.6) and punt-return yards (641), and eighth in punt-return attempts (44). He is tied for seventh in K-State history in career receptions (129). He is 255 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, and 227 all-purpose yards shy of entering K-State's top-10 list in each category. He is also one of just five players with 1,000 receiving yards and 600 punt-return yards in a career.
"Special teams is the third aspect of the game, and I take pride in my work," he says. "I'll continue to take pride in my work and be a threat. I'm excited about this year."
The start to Brooks' career was somewhat unglamorous as the former first team all-state pick out of Lee's Summit (Mo.) West High School played in four games to retain his redshirt status in 2018. However, Brooks' production immediately ramped up in 2019, as he had 26 catches for 253 yards and one touchdown and finished fourth in the Big 12 in kickoff-return average (22.7) and tied for third nationally with his first-career punt-return touchdown (66 yards) against Navy in the 2019 Liberty Bowl. Brooks earned 2020 Third Team All-America honors behind a 23.7-yard punt-return average — a mark that would've led the nation and been No. 1 in school history if he had one more return to meet the NCAA required minimum.
Although Brooks ranked second on the team in receptions (43) and first in receiving yards (543) in 2021, he was held without a touchdown reception — a stat that emphatically changed when Klein took the reins of the offense last season. Starting all 14 games, Brooks set career highs in catches (45), receiving yards (587) and touchdowns (four) while earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors as a punt/kick returner.
"When I came here, I started from the bottom walking on, so just to go through the process of walking on to getting a scholarship to playing on special teams only to getting a little bit of offense, and now being in the offensive rotation was big," he says. "I just feel like last year there were just some plays left out there for me. I know that, and the coaches know that.
"This year, I definitely plan on taking advantage of that with this being my last ride."
He plans to unlock his potential in the fall. That includes lining up at even more wide receiver spots this season to utilize his versality and mastery of the offense.
"I just want to be more impactful, a better playmaker and more consistent in my route running and releases at top of my breaks," he says. "Just fine-tuning my game and making more plays this year. That's what I plan on doing."
Brooks asserts that Klein will "bring out stuff that we haven't brought out" offensively, which is scary given the long-reaching potential of quarterback Will Howard, the return of All-Big 12 First Team tight end Ben Sinnott and the entire starting offensive line, and the potential impact of wide receivers RJ Garcia II and Johnson, and the return of running back DJ Giddens along with the arrival of Florida State transfer Treshaun Ward.
Last season, the K-State offense ranked in the top 10 in school history in 14 game or season categories.
"Our theme this season is 'Raise the Bar,' so we're trying to do more than what we did last year offensively," Brooks says. "That's what we've been working on this spring."
Brooks, who turns 24 on September 19, already has been subject to fun-loving nicknames such as "grandpa" and "uncle" among his younger teammates.
Already, he envisions what it might be like to run onto the field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium for the season opener against SEMO on September 2. Running onto the football field never gets old, yet each step will carry some added significance for Brooks in 2023. This is another reason he returned to K-State: To treasure these moments.
"What we train for all year is to play this game in front of our beautiful fans," he says. "It's always a great moment, and it'll be especially because this will be my last year. I'll definitely have a little more excitement going into this year knowing it's going to be my last first game."
He pauses.
"I'm excited for the team," he says. "I'm ready to go back-to-back."
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