Eugene Brooks UA All-American Interview
Sooners' offensive line signee Eugene Brooks speaks to the media at Under Armour All-American Game Media Day.
Transcript
00:00 Led me to Oklahoma was just the friendship with the coach, the relationship with the coach.
00:05 Just feeling wanted with family. Not only did they recruit me, they recruited my family.
00:10 They brought me in and made me feel welcome and feel like a home.
00:14 When you were on campus and able to talk with everybody and really see the environment there,
00:19 what really stood out to you about that experience and made you feel like,
00:23 "This is a place that I can't pass up"?
00:25 Really just how much of a team is a family. Everybody's a brotherhood.
00:30 In the locker room, everybody's, you know what I'm saying, everybody look at each other as brothers.
00:34 It's just really a real family. Family, I don't know how to say it,
00:39 but it's just more so a community and a good, a helpful environment.
00:44 Which coach do you feel like you were closest with?
00:47 Coach Bennington. Online coach.
00:49 Talking with him, seeing the way he's developed players in the past,
00:53 was that the biggest factor for you there?
00:55 Yes sir, it was. Seeing players like Trent Williams, other players that he played in the league,
00:59 it's just amazing to me. My goal is to make it to the NFL and be able to,
01:04 every player wants to retire their mom.
01:06 For me, it's just a blessing to be able to go there in a few months and be able to play for them.
01:11 Watching this team play this year, the ups, the downs,
01:14 what really stood out to you about that offensive line play?
01:17 Really, they just kept playing. No matter what was going on in the moment,
01:21 they kept playing, kept fighting, and I just liked their intensity and their mindset.
01:25 Seeing how the transfer portal has affected college football,
01:28 and in particular Oklahoma this year, did that play a role in your commitment at all?
01:33 Was that something you thought about?
01:35 No sir. For me, throughout my high school career, the transfer portal was always blowing up
01:40 throughout the years, and for me it's just a part of college.
01:44 So for me to go up there is just for me to ball out.
01:47 Everything is just whatever the future holds.
01:50 What team came in second for you?
01:52 Texas.
01:54 Outside of Oklahoma and their coaching staff, was it the Texas coaching staff that had the best relationship with you,
01:59 or was there another coach out there that really did a good job with you?
02:02 I always had a good relationship with Coach Winnables. That's why.
02:07 Was there any strange recruiting tactics or recruiting pitches that you heard
02:12 while you were going through your recruitment?
02:14 No sir.
02:16 Watching you in high school, it seems like you've played a lot of different positions on the offensive line.
02:21 What do you feel more comfortable at, and where do you think you're going to play in college?
02:25 For me, I think I'm going to play in college more so in the interior line, the guard center.
02:29 I'm more so comfortable playing tackle and guard, just to show my athletic ability,
02:34 so I can move, so I can compete with the fast players and players that think I can't walk.
02:39 For me, it's just really my mindset, it's just me playing wherever I can,
02:43 I can play wherever on the line, so it really is, I'm a dog wherever they need me.
02:47 How do you feel like you fit with Bill Bedenboe's kind of system that he runs?
02:51 I feel perfect. I fit right in, I'm ready to come up there and work.
02:54 We've heard that he's a lot more of an aggressive coach. How do you think that aligns with you?
03:01 It's football, you know what I'm saying? There's going to be more coaches to come,
03:05 it's just nothing but an opportunity, and a life lesson, it's just how far it's going to go.
03:10 I'm sure you got to talk with some of the OU coaches about the Soul Mission.
03:13 What are your thoughts on that?
03:15 Could you repeat that question again for me, please?
03:17 I'm sure you got to talk about the Soul Mission with some of the OU coaches.
03:20 What did you think about the Soul Mission?
03:22 The Soul Mission is great. Just giving back to communities, how they do,
03:25 it's just a great opportunity to put myself out there and be able to help others.
03:29 I know that some of your teammates are here on both offensive and defensive lines.
03:33 What is it going to be like, I guess, getting to experience this week with them?
03:38 It's going to be high priority for the intensity. Me and my boys are going to put it down this week.
03:43 Do you think that getting to play with Daniel Akinkumi,
03:47 do you think that's going to help you guys as you transition into Norman next month?
03:50 Yes, sir, it is.