Redshirt senior safety Will Brooks is only the second Vols player to be nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to players who started as a walk-on.

-- Tennessee Athletics/Utsports.Com

Little kids usually grow up dreaming about winning the Heisman Trophy, not the Burlsworth Trophy. They all want to be starters right away, not stand on the sideline and patiently wait for a turn that may never come.

Being a walk-on isn’t an easy path in college football, but it can lead to great outcomes. Will Brooks is a testament to that.

The University of Tennessee redshirt senior safety was selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in America who began their career as a walk-on. Brooks is the second player in UT history to be named a semifinalist, joining linebacker Nick Reveiz in 2010.

“You talk about a journeyman and coming out on the other side of it. Guy that continues to just invest every single day and you reap the rewards,” UT head coach Josh Heupel says.

Brooks is in the midst of a breakout final season. The Alabama native has started all 10 games at safety while leading the Vols with three interceptions and ranking second on the team with 48 tackles and five pass breakups.

Brooks will be among the seniors honored Saturday when the Vols (8-2) host Texas-El Paso (2-8) in the final regular-season home game at Neyland Stadium (1 p.m. ET, SECN+).

Patience pays off

It’s been a long time coming for Brooks, who has displayed patience and resilience to get his chance to make an impact for the Vols.

Brooks was a high school lacrosse All-American, but didn’t get any scholarship offers to play the sport in college. Brooks decided he would try to play football instead. But as a zero-star recruit, no programs offered him any scholarships in that sport either.

He accepted a preferred walk-on spot from former UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt and his staff.

“It was kind of just the opportunity to be able to play at this level,” Brooks says. “Growing up, I always wanted to play big-time SEC football, and Tennessee presented me with the opportunity to play. And I came up on a visit here and loved it – loved the fans, loved the atmosphere that Neyland had and just everything about it – so that’s kind of how I got up here.”

Brooks knew he would need to take advantage of every opportunity in practice to stand out. He finally got a chance to get on the field as a redshirt freshman when he played on the kick return unit. Once Pruitt and his staff were fired following NCAA violations and numerous players left the program, Brooks got even more time in practice and saw the field on defense in 2023.

“I’ve always felt that I could help,” Brooks says. “I’ve always just kind of played my role, just whatever the coaches have asked of us. As long as the coaches are trusting me to do what I can do, I’ll trust them to put me in the right positions and to play where I’m needed to play.”

Tide pick particularly sweet

Secondary coach Willie Martinez appreciates the stable presence and accountability Brooks brings to the defense.

“He’s an everyday, consistent player who is very detailed,” Martinez says. “Whether that is in meetings, off the field or whether we are taking a day off, he’s somebody that we are leaning on for leadership because he’s been here for a long time and has done it the right way. His teammates respect him tremendously. He’s been very consistent – that’s the best thing I can say about Will. There’s no up-and-down. The players are being led the right way.”

Brooks has accumulated a few career highlights this season. He returned his first career interception 85 yards for a touchdown in UT’s win over NC State and recorded back-to-back interceptions against Alabama and Kentucky.

The interception against Alabama was particularly meaningful, coming against his home state university and a UT rival. The pick sealed the 24-17 win over the Tide.

“That’ll be a moment in his life, and I’m sure he’ll tell that story to all of his grandkids and great grandkids and anybody who’ll be able to listen to it as he continues to grow older,” Heupel said at the time. “But what a special player, but really just a special young guy.”

Brooks’ teammates have been thrilled to see his success this season. They know how hard he’s worked and how much time he’s invested to get the chance to be a starter. He may have arrived as a walk-on, but he will be leaving as a vital contributor.

“I know his mindset and I know he’s not taking any of this for granted,” UT running back Dylan Sampson says. “What a great story for him. We love it for him. Will Brooks has been a king guy like that. You can trust him because he will do his job, and he will make plays.”