Durant Brooks
Encyclopedia
Durant Stiles Brooks 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
, Philadelphia Eagles
, and Jacksonville Jaguars
.
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." His father, Paul Brooks, continues to coach at Tattnall.
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.
, 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. 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.
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-America
n second team by AP, and the All-ACC first team.
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.
in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He signed a four-year contract with the Redskins on July 11. Brooks won the punting job over Derrick Frost
, who was released on August 30.
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. On October 15, the Redskins signed punter Ryan Plackemeier
, effectively ending Brooks' tenure with the team.
on December 15, 2008 after running back
Steven Korte
was released. He was re-signed to a future contract at the end of the season. The Packers released Brooks on August 31, 2009 after he lost the punting job to Jeremy Kapinos
.
on February 2, 2010. He was expected to compete with Sav Rocca for the starting punter job, but was waived on May 25.
on August 5, 2011, but was waived a week later on August 12.
, who lived in Thomson, Georgia
. He is engaged to Natanya Harper. He currently resides in Johns Creek, Georgia
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Brooks has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Brooks attended Tattnall Square AcademyTattnall Square Academy
Tattnall Square Academy is an independent, non-profit, Christian, college preparatory academy located in Macon, Georgia. It was chartered by the State of Georgia in 1969. The school is administered by a Board of Directors consisting of church members and parents. Officers are elected annually and...
in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and was a student and a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. 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." His father, Paul Brooks, continues to coach at Tattnall.
Georgia Military College
Brooks attended Georgia Military CollegeGeorgia Military College
Georgia Military College is a United States Military Junior College, high school, and middle school in Milledgeville, Georgia. GMC is one of five military junior colleges that participates in the Army's Early Commissioning Program. Cadets who graduate from GMC's two-year, military science-oriented...
and was a student and a two-year letterman in football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. 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.
Georgia Tech
After graduating from Georgia Military College, Brooks attended Georgia TechGeorgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, punting for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The teams have also been nicknamed the Ramblin' Wreck, Engineers, Blacksmiths, and Golden Tornado. There are 8 men's and 7 women's teams that...
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. 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.
As a junior, Brooks came in third place for the Ray Guy Award
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
, given to the best punter in the country. He was also named to the All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n second team by AP, and the All-ACC first team.
As a senior, Brooks received the Ray Guy Award
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
, 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.
Washington Redskins
Brooks was drafted by the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He signed a four-year contract with the Redskins on July 11. Brooks won the punting job over Derrick Frost
Derrick Frost
Derrick E. Frost is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
, who was released on August 30.
After week 6 of the 2008 NFL season
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
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. On October 15, the Redskins signed punter Ryan Plackemeier
Ryan Plackemeier
Ryan Steven Plackemeier is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, effectively ending Brooks' tenure with the team.
Green Bay Packers
Brooks was signed to the practice squad of the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
on December 15, 2008 after running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Steven Korte
Steven Korte
Steven Korte is an American football fullback for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
was released. He was re-signed to a future contract at the end of the season. The Packers released Brooks on August 31, 2009 after he lost the punting job to Jeremy Kapinos
Jeremy Kapinos
Jeremy D. Kapinos is an American football punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was first signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
.
Philadelphia Eagles
After spending the 2009 season out of football, Brooks signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on February 2, 2010. He was expected to compete with Sav Rocca for the starting punter job, but was waived on May 25.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Brooks signed with the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 5, 2011, but was waived a week later on August 12.
Personal
Brooks was mentored by family friend and legendary punter Ray GuyRay Guy
William Ray Guy is a retired American football punter for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. Coming from the University of Southern Mississippi, he was the only pure punter ever to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft when the Oakland Raiders selected him in 1973.Guy was a key member of...
, who lived in Thomson, Georgia
Thomson, Georgia
Thomson, incorporated February 15, 1854, is a city in McDuffie County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,828 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of McDuffie County. Thomson's nickname is "The Camellia City of the South", in honor of the thousands of camellia plants...
. He is engaged to Natanya Harper. He currently resides in Johns Creek, Georgia
Johns Creek, Georgia
Johns Creek is a suburban city in Fulton County, Georgia, USA, which incorporated December 1, 2006. It is named for a tributary that runs through the area. The city was created out of the northeastern part of unincorporated Fulton County...
.