Ahmad Brooks (born March 14, 1984 in Fairfax, Virginia) is an American football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL Supplemental Draft. He played college football at Virginia.

He is the son of former NFL defensive tackle Perry Brooks.

[edit] Early years

Brooks attended C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, which he helped lead to two VHSL state championships during his three-year tenure (1999-2001). Brooks battled injuries throughout his high school career, but he had a very productive year in 2001 - he had 207 tackles (144 solos), including 34 for loss, and he also rushed for 848 yards and 10 TDs while averaging 12.6 yards per carry. The semifinal loss in 2001 was the only Hylton loss in three years in which he played. He was named as USA Today’s National Defensive Player of the year after the 2001 season. He participated in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Bowl game. In 2002 he played at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia.

[edit] College career

Following high school, Brooks spent one year at a military post-graduate school before enrolling at Virginia in the fall of 2003, where he majored in Sociology. He earned a starting position as a freshman and finished the year with a career-high and team-leading 117 tackles. He also had four sacks, six passes defensed, 10 tackles-for-loss and 15 QB pressures. He had a career-high 12 tackles vs. Pittsburgh in the Continental Tire Bowl, including a key stop early in the contest to complete a goal-line stand.

During his sophomore year at the University of Virginia he was one of three Butkus Award finalists, which goes to the best linebacker in the country. He played in 12 games, earning All-America honors after totaling a team-leading 90 tackles, with eight sacks, two INTs, 11 QB pressures and 10 tackles-for-loss. Earned Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance against the Maryland Terrapins.

He played in six games as a junior, with 27 tackles (10 solo), including one sack, plus four passes defensed and five QB pressures. He missed games 1-3 while rehabbing from knee surgery performed following his sophomore campaign. He missed other games due to various injuries throughout the 2005 season. He was involved in several off-field problems and was eventually dismissed from the team following the season.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Cincinnati Bengals

Brooks entered the NFL Supplemental Draft following his junior season at Virginia and was selected by the Bengals in the third round on July 13, 2006. He made his NFL debut September 24 at Pittsburgh (no statistics). As a rookie, he played in 11 contests (Games 3-9, 11-12, and 16), with starts at MLB in Games 5-9. He had 46 tackles, with one sack, 2 passes defensed, and one special teams tackle.

In the season opener on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens, Brooks was the starter. Brooks ended the game with six tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. In the first series of the game against the Cleveland Browns in week 2, Brooks tore his groin muscle, which ended his season.^[1] He was placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2007.^[2]

Brooks was waived by the Bengals on August 30, 2008 during final cuts.

[edit] San Francisco 49ers

On August 31, 2008, Brooks was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers. The team released linebacker Dontarrious Thomas to make room for Brooks. The 49ers waived Brooks on November 29 to make room for wide receiver Chris Hannon, but re-signed Brooks on December 2 after Hannon was waived.
On December 2, 2009, San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary mentioned that Brooks would be used increasingly during pass rushing situations.^[3] In week 14, Brooks recorded single-game career-highs of 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles against the Arizona Cardinals.

[edit] Personal

[edit] Punching incident

Brooks has been accused of punching a woman in the face. The woman said that Brooks and her neighbor were about to fight on April 9, 2008, and she “nicely approached” them and asked them to stop and "take it somewhere else." She says that's when Brooks "pulled back his fist and struck me in the left eye." She then fell and blacked out. When she gained consciousness, she grabbed her children, ran inside her home, called 911 and was taken to an area emergency room. Brooks has been summoned to appear in court on June 6 to answer the fourth-degree assault charges put upon him.^[4] Brooks accepted mediation on the charges. He was charged with misdemeanor assault, and the case is expected to be reviewed again in September.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• San Francisco 49ers bio