Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks: "The Every Down Back"

FRISCO, TX — When looking for a special running back in the 2025 NFL Draft class, NFL scouts need to look no further than Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks. Brooks hopes to be picked up by an NFL team in April in the 2025 NFL Draft and continues to work tirelessly to that end.

Brooks has already seen two different opportunities to impress NFL scouts. First, Brooks was invited to the NFL Combine this year and, most recently, attended the Big 12 Pro Day held this year in Frisco.

Brooks, the all-time leading rusher at Texas Tech and one of the top running back prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class took the time to interview with Ryan Chadwick after his workout at the Big 12 Pro Day held this year at The Star.

One important aspect Brooks wants NFL teams to know about him ahead of the draft is his ability to be an "every down back." Although known for his bruising running style with several 30-carry games under his belt, Brooks can also catch the football coming out of the backfield.

"For the NFL, I think I'm an every-down back," Brooks said after his workout. "I can catch the ball out of the backfield. I think I'm very explosive when the ball touches my hands, and I make people miss. That's what I think NFL teams should know."

Brooks is correct in marketing his talents that way. The NFL has changed in recent years. No longer are teams looking for the Emmitt Smith's or LaDanian Tomlison's of the world. Now, running backs need to be able to contribute to the air attack if they want to stay on the field. Brooks ran a solid practice during the passing segment. His route tree looked clean, and he didn't drop a single pass that came his way. NFL scouts received a good look at a side of Tahj that they may not have known he had.

All of this culminates in a higher draft stock.

Brooks currently grades out as the 16th overall running back coming out of college. A good performance at the NFL combine earned him that score. However, Brooks chose to participate in the Big 12 Pro Day to help boost that score even further.

With all that said, Brooks is most certainly an explosive bruiser in the backfield when carrying the football.

"I'm very explosive," Brook continued. "I'm not going down by one tackler. That's my mindset. I don't want one person tackling me. I feel like that should be every running back's mindset because we get paid to hold the ball, make guys miss, and score touchdowns."

Brooks has been an integral piece to the Red Raiders' success over the past several seasons. A running back who is elusive, hard to tackle, and takes care of the football powered the Red Raiders to several wins in 2025.

The young man finished his career as a Red Raider as Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher. He achieved that feat late last season, snapping Byron Hanspard's career record against Colorado in November 2024. Brooks finished his career at Tech with 4,557 rushing yards. He is the only Red Raider in program history with multiple 1,500-yard seasons. He finished 2023 with 1,538 yards in 2023 and 1,505 yards in 2024. He also holds the record for 100-yard games at 23 games.

Brooks will have a shot to live out his dreams come the end of April. The 2025 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 24. He has until then to continue to show all 32 NFL teams why they should put him on their rosters.