LUBBOCK, TX — Texas Tech senior running back Tahj Brooks added another prestigious accolade to his résumé Tuesday, earning first-team Academic All-America honors as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Brooks, currently preparing for the East-West Shrine Bowl, becomes the 11th Red Raider in program history to receive Academic All-America recognition and the first to do so from the running back position. He is Texas Tech’s first Academic All-American since Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was selected in 2016.
Brooks was previously one of five Red Raiders named to the CSC Academic All-District team, joined by kicker Reese Burkhardt, offensive lineman Davion Carter, wide receiver Drew Hocutt, and punter Jack Burgess. To qualify for the honor, nominees must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, maintain a minimum 3.50 GPA, and participate in at least 90 percent of their team’s games or start in 66 percent of contests.
This marks Brooks’ second significant academic award this season. In December, he was one of 16 finalists for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, known as the "Academic Heisman," at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas. He became the sixth Red Raider in history to be named an NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
Brooks also earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors for the fourth consecutive year, leading a group of 22 Red Raiders recognized by the conference. He maintained a 3.55 GPA as an undergraduate, earning his bachelor’s degree in sport management in December 2023, and spent his final season pursuing a certificate in sports communications.
On the field, Brooks cemented his legacy as Texas Tech’s all-time leading rusher, finishing the 2024 season with 1,505 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in just 11 games. He became the third player in Big 12 history and the 48th in FBS since 1956 to post consecutive 1,500-yard rushing seasons. He was also the first Power Five player since 2016 to accomplish the feat in 11 games or fewer.
A semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, Brooks concluded his Red Raider career with 4,557 rushing yards, ranking fourth all-time in Big 12 history behind Texas legends Cedric Benson and Ricky Williams and Kansas State's Darren Sproles. He also set Texas Tech records for career 100-yard games (23) and career rushing attempts (879).
Brooks was a key figure in a Texas Tech offense that ranked fourth nationally in scoring (37.6 points per game) and ninth in total offense (462.7 yards per game). Individually, he finished third in the country with 136.8 rushing yards per game and fifth in all-purpose yards per game (154.9), despite missing two contests due to injury. He was one of only three FBS running backs—and the only Big 12 player—to eclipse 3,000 rushing yards over the past two seasons.
Brooks will wear the scarlet and black one final time on Thursday night in the 100th East-West Shrine Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT, with television coverage on NFL Network.
Texas Tech Academic All-Americans
- Jeff Jobe (WR) – 1972
- Maury Buford (P) – 1979-80
- Jeff McKinney (LB) – 1980
- Chuck Alexander (DB) – 1983
- Tom Mathiasmeier (DE) – 1989
- Robert King (P) – 1992-93
- Keith Cockrum (LB) – 1999
- Kliff Kingsbury (QB) – 2002
- Cody Davis (DB) – 2012
- Patrick Mahomes II (QB) – 2016
- Tahj Brooks (RB) – 2024
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: