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Pittsburgh has turn out to be a spot to thrive for Maryland soccer alums, with a protracted record of former Terps having success with the Steelers: just a few years in the past with guys like Darrius Heyward-Bay and Sean Davis, and these days with others like Trey Edmunds and Anthony McFarland. It appears like Antoine Brooks is subsequent on that record.
Brooks, the previous standout defensive again at Maryland, is beginning to emerge as he enters his second season with the Steelers. On Thursday night time within the preseason-opening Corridor of Fame Recreation in Canton in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, he made just a few eye-catching gamers, most notably a fumble restoration and return, and an enormous cease within the backfield.
Yahoo Sports activities’ Curt Popejoy ranked him among the many high seven defensive gamers within the recreation.
“I’ve to confess I used to be skeptical of Antoine Brooks changing Mike Hilton on protection however he actually did look the half on Thursday. The Steelers moved Brooks round on protection and he seemed very snug in no matter function the coaches put him in,” he wrote.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, whose son Dino is a large receiver for the Terps, was requested this week about his second-year gamers.
“Cannot say sufficient about Anthony McFarland and Antoine Brooks, particularly. They’re two guys who confirmed up in actually good situation and have been actually constant when it comes to laying down varsity-like practices. I count on that group to make vital jumps. I’ve seen it rather a lot,” he mentioned.
Brooks is attempting to earn the beginning spot vacated by standout Hilton’s departure for the Cincinnati Bengals in free company.
“I take a look at Mike’s recreation on a regular basis,” Brooks mentioned in July. “Probably the greatest blitzers that touched a Steelers uniform. He taught me rather a lot whereas he was right here, and I admire him — I name him my OG. So I admire him being a big-brother determine to me once I was right here and attempting to get the nickel spot or simply actually attempting to be taught the protection.”
Antoine Brooks already on the spotlight reel pic.twitter.com/uqTG8tjPfi
— Terps Watch (@TerpsWatch) August 6, 2021
Though not blazing quick, Brooks is an enormous hitter who’s all the time had a knack for being across the ball. He is getting an opportunity to point out that now in Pittsburgh, the place he was drafted within the sixth spherical final yr however barely noticed the sphere as a rookie.
Brooks left observe early with an undisclosed harm a pair weeks in the past, however returned rapidly, which isn’t any shock given his sturdiness and toughness. As a star at DuVal Excessive (Md.), just a few miles from School Park, he suffered a significant leg harm that scared off plenty of recruiters, serving to Maryland safe his dedication There, he turned a second-team all-Large Ten participant, main the convention in solo tackles per recreation as a senior in 2019. Two years earlier, he led all Large Ten defensive backs in tackles for loss.
“He is doing a tremendous job. Him and Cam [Sutton], the 2 new guys on the protection who’re truly stepping up,” Steelers receiver Juju Smith-Schuster mentioned. “I am going in opposition to Antoine day-after-day and he is placing great things on movie. He is giving me competitors and we’re placing within the work and we’re simply making one another higher.”
McFarland, who’s attempting to earn the Steelers No. 2 working again job behind first-round choose Najee Harris, rush for 9 yards on three carries within the Steelers’ 16-3 win.
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