The Texas A&M Aggies received devastating news earlier this month: standout running back Rueben Owens suffered a season-ending lower-body injury.
Coach Mike Elko’s offense still has a strong running back team with Le’Veon Moss, Amari Daniels and EJ Smith, but the defense has some potential backfield players in store should further injuries occur.
Speaking to the media on August 12, Texas A&M defensive back Dalton Brooks admitted that he would “always” be available if the team needed a running back in an emergency.
“Oh yeah, I’ve always been able to do that,” Brooks said. “You know, that was a part of my game before I got here, and it’ll probably always be a part of my game. But right now, I love defense.”
247Sports’ high school scouting report for Brooks called him a “big-play machine as a running back.” In 2020, the four-star recruit at Shiner won the Offensive MVP in the Texas 2A DI state championship, a Texas District 13-2A-I Defensive MVP and was selected to the first team as a running back, according to 247.
Brooks is also cousin to former Texas Longhorns running back and current Carolina Panthers rookie Jonathon Brooks, who was one of the best ball carriers in college football last season. The talent for running backs clearly runs in the family.
Last season, Brooks totaled 18 tackles (10 solo) and had one interception, with his best effort coming in a 31-23 loss to Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl, a game in which he also finished with a career-high seven total tackles.
