UNC Football: A night to remember for British Brooks

UNC Football running back British Brooks returned to the football field against South Carolina after missing 2022 with a season-ending injury.

It was a special night for the UNC football program as they took home a 31-17 opening-night victory over South Carolina on Saturday night.

As big of a win it was for the program, it was extra special for running back British Brooks.

Tar Heel fans last saw Brooks in Bank of America Stadium in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl game against South Carolina in 2021 when he ran for 72 yards on five carries. Before that, he had rushed for 124 yards on 15 carries against NC State the same season.

Heading into his graduate year for the 2022 season, he was expected to be the lead back for the UNC football team. Unfortunately for Brooks, he suffered a lower-body injury when he tore a ligament in his knee, which ruled him out for the season. Brooks could have easily just quit on football and retired from the game, but that simply isn’t in his nature.

Brooks worked all year to return to the UNC football program for the 2023 season all to play one last season in the Carolina Blue. His return was a huge boost to the running back unit, especially given the team’s struggles to develop a lead back and a consistent running back a season ago.

Throughout the offseason, fans weren’t sure who, or if, the Tar Heels lead back would be in 2023. Fast forward to Saturday night, and we might have just found our answer.

British Brooks stepped on the same football field he last played a game on 611 days later. The last time wasn’t the outcome Brooks or Tar Heel fans wanted, but Saturday night, we saw a different Carolina running game.

Brooks and sophomore Omarion Hampton split the touches out of the Tar Heel backfield evenly (Hampton 16 carries, Brooks 15). Both backs combined for 140 yards rushing, which took a lot of pressure off star quarterback Drake Maye.

Brooks led the way with 103 rushing yards, as he averaged 6.9 yards per carry in his return. After the Tar Heels captured the victory, it was an emotional moment for Brooks, who not only worked tremendously hard to get back on the field but made a major impact in his return.

No one is happier to be back on the field than Brooks. If this is a sign of things to come, the UNC football program’s offense may have just found it’s lead back to rely on throughout the 2023 season.

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