Ja'Corey Brooks WR Louisville | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Ja'Corey Brooks WR Louisville
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 12/06/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.65 seconds (8%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.1 DOB: 10/31/2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 12/06/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.65 seconds (8%*) | |
| Age: 23.1 DOB: 10/31/2001 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 82.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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74% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 119.8 | |
| Hands: |
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56% |
| Short Receiving: |
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83% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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89% |
| Deep Threat: |
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90% |
| Blocking: |
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58% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#208
Position rank:
#23
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| College Games: 40 College Snaps: 1629 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 99/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sage Surratt - Wake Forest |
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78% |
| Jaivon Heiligh - Coastal Carolina |
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76% |
| Quentin Johnston - TCU |
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69% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Ja'Corey Brooks, a wide receiver from Louisville, enters the NFL Draft after a collegiate career that began at Alabama before transferring. The 6'3", 195-pound pass-catcher was a highly touted five-star recruit coming out of IMG Academy, where he showcased his potential as a top target. Brooks' college career started promisingly at Alabama, highlighted by a clutch touchdown catch in the 2021 Iron Bowl that saved the Crimson Tide's season.In his sophomore year at Alabama, Brooks emerged as a reliable target, accumulating 674 receiving yards and leading the team with eight touchdowns. His production showcased his ability to stretch the field, averaging an impressive 17.3 yards per catch. However, Brooks' junior season was derailed by a shoulder injury, limiting him to just three receptions for 30 yards before he ultimately decided to transfer to Louisville.
Despite his accolades and early promise, Brooks' draft stock has been impacted by inconsistent production and injury concerns. His physical tools and high school pedigree suggest untapped potential, but his limited recent production raises questions about his readiness for the NFL level.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Prototype X-receiver frame with plus length and catch radius, allowing him to dominate in jump-ball situations and red-zone scenarios.
- Proven big-game performer, as demonstrated by his two-touchdown showing in the Florida Class 4A state championship game.
- Strong hands and concentration at the catch point, securing passes away from his frame even with defenders in close proximity.
- Deceptive route runner who uses subtle head fakes and body positioning to create separation, particularly effective on in-breaking routes.
- Dangerous YAC threat on screens and short passes, combining size and unexpected shiftiness to break tackles and extend plays.
- Four-down player with special teams experience, including kick returns and punt blocking ability, adding value beyond receiver duties.
- Raw talent with untapped potential, possessing the physical tools that could translate to a high-ceiling NFL prospect with proper development.
- Versatile athlete with track background, participating in sprints and jumps, indicating potential for improved functional speed in pads.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Inconsistent production throughout collegiate career, failing to build on the promise shown in high school and early at Alabama.
- Injury history raises concerns, with a shoulder issue significantly impacting his most recent season and potentially affecting long-term durability.
- Conflicting speed reports create uncertainty about true deep threat potential, with early 40-yard dash times not matching on-field play speed.
- Route tree needs expansion and refinement, currently relying more on physical gifts than technical proficiency to win matchups.
- Limited recent tape due to injury and transfer, creating evaluation challenges and questions about current skill level and NFL readiness.
Scouting Report: Summary
Brooks presents a complex evaluation, with his transfer to Louisville and recent injury adding to the intrigue surrounding his inconsistent speed metrics. His move to a new program offers a chance to reboot his career, but also requires him to quickly adapt to a different system while recovering from a significant shoulder injury. This transition period will be crucial for NFL scouts assessing his ability to bounce back and potentially unlock the potential he showed early at Alabama.The contradictions in Brooks' speed assessments add another layer of mystery to his draft profile. Despite pedestrian timed speed early in his career, his on-field play and track achievements suggest better functional speed. His performance at Louisville will be critical in resolving this discrepancy. Scouts will be watching closely to see if he can showcase the vertical threat ability that his high school stats and early college flashes hinted at, particularly as he works back from injury.
Ultimately, Brooks' draft stock hinges on three key factors: his successful recovery from injury, his ability to produce consistently in Louisville's system, and his pre-draft workout performances that could clarify his true speed. Teams will need to weigh his intriguing physical tools and past big-game performances against the injury concerns and the impact of his transfer.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
How other scouting services rate Ja'Corey Brooks (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
204.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
29.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.