Pros and cons of Dallas Cowboys picking South Carolina's Jalen Brooks in 2023 NFL Draft
COLUMBIA — South Carolina football wide receiver Jalen Brooks was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Brooks was an unranked prospect out of high school and began his college career at Division II Wingate before transferring to South Carolina in 2020. In three seasons with the Gamecocks, he logged 785 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 58 receptions.
Brooks was the fifth South Carolina player drafted in 2023 and second in the seventh round, joining guard Jovaughn Gwyn who went to the Atlanta Falcons. He is the first Gamecocks wide receiver taken since Shi Smith in 2021.
FIRST GAMECOCK DRAFTED: Pros and cons of Miami Dolphins picking South Carolina football's Cam Smith in 2023 NFL Draft
JAYCEE HORN: How Panthers' Jaycee Horn helped South Carolina's Cam Smith, Darius Rush before NFL Draft
TRANSFER PORTAL: South Carolina football loses freshman quarterback Braden Davis to transfer portal
The positives
Brooks is a player on the rise, coming off of the best season of his South Carolina career. He logged 504 receiving yards and started in every game after appearing in just six games in 2021. He averaged 42 yards per game and had his lone touchdown of the year in a big moment against then-No. 5 Tennessee.
Brooks is strong and has great hands, which makes him a solid threat to break tackles and gain yards after the catch.
The negatives
Brooks lacks the speed and agility to be truly competitive at the NFL level: He ran a 4.69 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, the worst time among wide receivers who tested there. He also had the slowest performance in the 3-cone drill, highlighting his sluggishness in changing direction.
His production also leaves something to be desired with just two touchdowns in three seasons with the Gamecocks. He a consistent receiver but never had a true breakout performance.
What else to know
There are questions about Brooks outside of football. He missed most of the 2021 season and spent several months "not part of the team" for reasons that were not publicly disclosed. He was away from the program from October 2021 until early June 2022.
Brooks also missed the 2022 Gator Bowl because coach Shane Beamer said he was "working through some things off the field."
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dallas Cowboys pick South Carolina's Jalen Brooks in 2023 NFL Draft
