British Brooks, 24, of North Carolina threw for 63 yards for a second-quarter touchdown against South Carolina at the Dukes Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. Compete.
rwillett@newsobserver.com
North Carolina lost its second offensive starter last Saturday after fifth-year RB British Brooks suffered a lower body injury during practice Saturday. The injury would keep him out for the entire season, according to the school.
It’s a devastating blow for Brooks, who entered school as a walk-on, won a scholarship, and became a key player on special teams while waiting for the opportunity to play at running back. After leading the Tar Heels and earning the starting spot in Carolina’s last three games last season, including a career-high 124 yards, he was poised for a breakout season.
Carolina will also miss receiver Antoine Green for six to 10 weeks.Green injured his shoulder at the August 6 scrimmage. Green and Josh his downs are the only wideouts with big-game experience for his heels in a not-so-deep position.
UNC is keen on running backs, but Brooks’ absence almost guarantees at least one freshman will be in the rotation. He praised him for making a scrimmage.
Brown said he wants to use three running backs this season, after having primarily used just two to split the workload over the past three seasons.
Junior DJ Jones has been the Heels’ top repeater since last season. Jones has 253 yards and averaged 4.2 yards per carry over nine games. Jones has battled injuries throughout his time on campus, but he said this was the healthiest he’s been since coming to Chapel Hill.
Sophomores Elijah Green and Caleb Hood are also competing for playing time. Hood appeared in seven games last season for 97 yards and he scored one. Green appeared in five games and threw 39 yards on 11 carries.
This story was originally published August 13, 2022 at 10:17 p.m.
CL Brown covers the University of North Carolina for The News & Observer. Brown has more than 20 years of reporting experience, including her writing assignments at Indiana University and the University of Louisville. After an extended residency at his APSE award-winning Louisville Courier-Journal, he stopped by his ESPN.com, his The Athletic, and even tried his hand at running his own website, clbrownhoops.com.
