Durant Brooks

Durant Brooks before the 2007 opener against Notre Dame
No. --     Free Agent
Punter
Personal information
Date of birth: April 15, 1985 (1985-04-15) (age 24)
Place of birth: Macon, Georgia
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	Weight: 204 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College: Georgia Tech
NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 6 / Pick: 168
Debuted in 2008 for the Washington Redskins
Career history
As player: Washington Redskins (2008) Green Bay Packers (2008–2009)* *Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
2× First-team All-ACC (2006–2007) 2× Second-team All-American (2006–2007) Ray Guy Award (2007)
Career NFL statistics as of 2008
Punts	26
Punting yards	1,030
Punt average	39.6
Stats at NFL.com

Durant Stiles Brooks (born April 15, 1985 in Macon, Georgia) is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

Brooks has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers.

Contents 1 Early years 2 College career 2.1 Georgia Military College 2.2 Georgia Tech 3 Professional career 3.1 Washington Redskins 3.2 Green Bay Packers 3.3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4 Personal 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Early years

Brooks attended Tattnall Square Academy in Macon, Georgia and was a student and a letterman in football and basketball. In football, he was the punter on the 2001 Georgia Independent Schools Association (GISA) Title team. In basketball, he averaged nearly 18 points a game. Brooks graduated from Tattnall in 2003. He credits his strong leg with saying, "Horseback riding has helped my leg get stronger."^{[citation needed]} His father, Paul Brooks, continues to coach at Tattnall.

[edit] College career

[edit] Georgia Military College

Brooks attended Georgia Military College and was a student and a two-year letterman in football. In football, he posted an average of 40 yards per punt over two years. In his senior season Brooks had an average of 45.3.

[edit] Georgia Tech

After graduating from Georgia Military college, Brooks attended Georgia Tech, punting for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets as a redshirt junior. In his two years at Georgia Tech, Brooks had 144 punts: nearly half (68) landed inside the 20 yard line, while 57 went for more than 50 yards.^[1] His longest punt came in his final ACC game in 2007: playing against North Carolina, Brooks stood at the back of his own end-zone and punted the ball to the opposite 16-yard line - the punt was officially marked as 77 yards (from the line of scrimmage at the seven to the opposite 16), but measured over 90 yards from the spot of the punt.^[2]

As a junior, Brooks came in third place for the Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in the country. He was also named to the All-American second team by AP, and the All-ACC first team.^[1]

As a senior, Brooks received the Ray Guy Award, ranking second in the ACC (and fourth in the nation) in punting average while only allowing his opponents to return 19 of his 65 punts. That year, he was also named to the All-American second team by AP (first team by Sports Illustrated and Rivals) and the All-ACC first team.^[1]

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Washington Redskins

Brooks was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He officially signed a contract with the Redskins on July 11.

After week 6 of the 2008 NFL season reports surfaced that Brooks was to be replaced by a veteran due to his poor performance. His gross average of 39.6 yards and net average of 32.1 yards were last in the NFL at the time.^[3] On Tuesday, October 15, 2008 the Redskins signed punter Ryan Plackemeier effectively ending Brooks' tenure with the team.

[edit] Green Bay Packers

Brooks was signed to the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers on December 15, 2008 after running back Steven Korte was released. He was resigned to a future contract at the end of the season. The Packers released Brooks on August 31, 2009.

[edit] Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On December 1st, 2009, Brooks had a tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He still remains unsigned.

[edit] Personal

Brooks was mentored by family friend and legendary punter Ray Guy, who lived in Thomson, Georgia ^[4].He is engaged to be married next year to Natanya Harper^[4]. He currently resides in Johns Creek, Georgia.

[edit] References

http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/6400

[edit] External links

• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets bio

v • d • e Ray Guy Award winners 2000: K. Stemke | 2001: T. Dorsch | 2002: M. Mariscal | 2003: B. Sander | 2004: D. Sepulveda | 2005: R. Plackemeier | 2006: D. Sepulveda | 2007: D. Brooks | 2008: M. Fodge | 2009: D. Butler

v • d • e Washington Redskins 2008 NFL Draft selections Devin Thomas • Fred Davis • Malcolm Kelly • Chad Rinehart • Justin Tryon • Durant Brooks • Kareem Moore • Colt Brennan • Rob Jackson • Chris Horton Draft Years: 1991  • 1992  • 1993  • 1994  • 1995  • 1996  • 1997  • 1998  • 1999  • 2000  • 2001  • 2002  • 2003  • 2004  • 2005  • 2006  • 2007  • 2008  • 2009