Kennedy Brooks: Three things to know about the Oklahoma football running back

After opting to sit out the 2020 NCAA football season, OU running back Kennedy Brooks spent 2021 racking up stats and playing a key role in the Oklahoma football offense.

Brooks, a redshirt junior at OU, became the fourth running back in OU history with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

In his first start of 2021, Kennedy Brooks burned Texas for 217 yards on 25 carries, averaging more than eight yards per haul in OU's 55-48 win. His efforts against the Longhorns earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors.

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Brooks earned 100 rushing yards in three other games for the Sooners this season, and played a pivotal role in OU's 35-23 victory against a surprising Kansas squad in Lawrence Oct. 23.

Here are three things to know about OU running back Kennedy Brooks.

Kennedy Brooks made OU-Texas history in 2021

In gaining 217 yards against Texas in the Red River Rivalry game Oct. 9, Kennedy Brooks turned in a performance that represents OU's fourth-best individual total in the series.

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Kennedy Brooks played a key role in OU avoiding a massive upset against Kansas

The game at Kansas wasn't supposed to be close, but the Jayhawks led the game 10-0 at halftime.

OU's 'gotta have it' practice drills paid off with the Sooners, leading 28-23, saddled with a fourth-and-1 at their own 46-yard line.

OU quarterback Caleb Williams took the snap and handed the ball off to Kennedy Brooks, who had just gotten stuffed on third-and-1. The redshirt junior back met the same fate, as he gathered the ball and ran into a pair of Kansas defenders at the line of scrimmage.

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Brooks backtracked before eventually being brought to the ground. Rich Miller immediately got up and celebrated what he believed to be a crucial tackle, but the play wasn't over.

Before Brooks was brought down, Williams wrestled the ball away from his own teammate and ran another four yards for the first down.

"I felt somebody tugging at (the ball), and then I saw that it was Caleb," Brooks said. "I knew it was fourth down and I was like, 'I can’t get tackled with the ball.' So I just gave the ball to Caleb."

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Kennedy Brooks made his availability for the Alamo Bowl known early

Kennedy Brooks is on record as having said he never thought about opting out of the Alamo Bowl against Oregon Dec. 29.

"I was raised to just think that if you're going to start something, finish it," Brooks said. "I never thought about it. Having another chance to play this game is a blessing. Me opting out last year, I missed it. So I ain't trying to opt-out and miss more games."

Will this be the last time Brooks suits up for the Sooners? While he's eligible to return next season, Brooks isn't quite ready to announce his decision.

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"I'll address it after the game," Brooks said. "My focus is just to try to beat Oregon and play this game, so that's what I'm focused on right now."

Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Kennedy Brooks, OU football running back: Three things to know